Sony and developer Shift Up are being sued by Louisiana-based film production company Stellarblade, which, in case you haven't guessed where this is going yet, is alleging trademark infringement following the release of this year's PS5 action-adventure game Stellar Blade.
As reported by Agency, the lawsuit was filed in a Louisiana court earlier this month by Stellarblade LLC and its owner, Griffith Chambers Mehaffey. It is specifically aimed at Sony, Shift Up, and Sony's unnamed liability insurance company, amid claims that Stellarblade's (the film company) business is being harmed by Stellar Blade's (the game) use of the name.
Stellarblade was created to provide “multimedia entertainment services,” including the production of films, documentaries, and music videos, in 2010, and Mehaffey is said to have owned the stellarblade.com domain since 2006. In the complaint, Mehaffey claims that his customers have been unable to easily find information about his business online since the game formerly known as Project Eve was re-revealed under the name Stellar Blade the game in 2021.
In a statement provided to Agency, Mehaffey's attorney expanded on the latter point, adding: “Defendants' vastly superior resources have effectively monopolized Stellarblade's online search results, pushing Mr. Mehaffey's long-standing business into digital obscurity and threatening the livelihood he has built over more than a decade.”
Mehaffey also contends that Shift Up and Sony’s Stellar Blade trademark (filed in January 2023) is “confusingly similar” to his own Stellarblade trademark (filed in June 2023), citing similar color schemes and a stylized “S.” He seeks damages and attorneys’ fees if his legal action is successful, and requests that Shift Up and Sony be enjoined from using Stellar Blade or any similar names in the future, and that all Stellar Blade materials in their possession be turned over to be destroyed.
Eurogamer's Jessica Orr quite liked Stellar Blade when it launched earlier this year, praising its “addictive combat and oddly appealing lack of personality” in her four-star review.