A Louisiana-based film production company, "Stellarblade," has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Sony and Shift Up, the developer of the PS5 game Stellar Blade. The suit, filed earlier this month in a Louisiana court, alleges that the game's title infringes upon the film company's trademark.
Conflicting Trademark Claims
The core of the dispute centers around the similarity of the names "Stellarblade" and "Stellar Blade." Both trademarks are registered, creating a legal battle over prior use and potential confusion.
Griffith Chambers Mehaffey, owner of Stellarblade, claims the game's use of a similar name has harmed his business, reducing online visibility and making it difficult for potential clients to find his film production company. He seeks monetary damages, attorney fees, an injunction preventing further use of the "Stellar Blade" trademark, and the destruction of all related game materials.
Mehaffey registered the "Stellarblade" trademark in June 2023, after sending a cease-and-desist letter to Shift Up the previous month. He claims to have owned the stellarblade.com domain since 2006 and operated his business under that name since 2011.
Shift Up registered the "Stellar Blade" trademark in January 2023, after initially using the working title "Project Eve" for the game. Mehaffey's lawyer argues that Sony and Shift Up should have been aware of his pre-existing rights. The lawyer also points to similarities between the logos and stylized "S" as further evidence of infringement.
The lawsuit highlights the complexities of trademark law, including the retroactive application of trademark rights. The outcome of this case will depend on the court's assessment of prior use, likelihood of confusion, and the strength of both trademarks.
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