A US film production company has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Sony and Shift Up, the creators of the popular PS5 game, Stellar Blade.
Trademark Dispute: Stellar Blade vs. Stellarblade
The Louisiana-based film company, "Stellarblade," claims that Sony and Shift Up's use of the similar name "Stellar Blade" constitutes trademark infringement. They argue this has negatively impacted their business, which specializes in commercials, documentaries, music videos, and independent films. The company alleges reduced online visibility due to the game's search engine dominance.
The lawsuit, filed earlier this month in a Louisiana court, seeks monetary damages, attorney fees, and an injunction to prevent further use of "Stellar Blade" or similar names. The plaintiff also demands the destruction of all Stellar Blade marketing materials.
The plaintiff, Griffith Chambers Mehaffey, registered the "Stellarblade" trademark in June 2023, following a cease and desist letter to Shift Up the previous month. He claims ownership of the stellarblade.com domain since 2006, actively using the name in his business since 2011. The lawsuit highlights the similarity between the logos and stylized "S," claiming they are confusingly similar.
Shift Up initially announced the game in 2019 under the working title "Project Eve," changing it to "Stellar Blade" in 2022 and registering the trademark in January 2023. Mehaffey's lawyer contends that Sony and Shift Up should have been aware of his pre-existing rights.
Mehaffey's lawyer stated to IGN that the defendants' actions have pushed their client's business into "digital obscurity," threatening their livelihood. They emphasize a belief in fair competition but highlight the need to protect their brand from larger companies disregarding established rights. The lawyer also points out that trademark rights can have retroactive application.
The case raises questions about the complexities of trademark law and the potential challenges faced by smaller businesses when competing with larger corporations.
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