Sony and Shift Up, creators of the PS5 game Stellar Blade, face a trademark infringement lawsuit from a Louisiana film production company, "Stellarblade."

Trademark Clash: Stellar Blade vs. Stellarblade

The lawsuit, filed earlier this month in a Louisiana court, alleges that the game's title damages the film company's business. Griffith Chambers Mehaffey, owner of Stellarblade, claims the game's similar name hinders online visibility, making it difficult for potential clients to find his company's website, stellarblade.com (registered in 2006 and used since 2011).

Mehaffey seeks monetary compensation, attorney fees, and an injunction to halt the use of "Stellar Blade" by Sony and Shift Up. He also demands the destruction of all Stellar Blade materials. He registered the "Stellarblade" trademark in June 2023, issuing a cease-and-desist letter to Shift Up the following month.

The lawsuit highlights that Stellar Blade, initially known as "Project Eve," was renamed in 2022, with Shift Up registering the trademark in January 2023. Mehaffey's lawyer argues that Sony and Shift Up should have been aware of Mehaffey's pre-existing rights. The lawyer emphasizes the significant online search result dominance of "Stellar Blade," pushing Stellarblade into digital obscurity. The similarity of logos and stylized "S" are also cited as points of contention.

The lawyer's statement to IGN underscores the film company's long-standing use of the name and its commitment to protecting its brand from what it views as unfair competition by a larger entity. The lawsuit also notes that trademark rights can have retroactive application, extending beyond the official registration date. The outcome of this legal battle remains to be seen.