A Louisiana film production company, Stellarblade, is suing Sony and Shift Up, the developer of the PS5 game Stellar Blade, for alleged trademark infringement. The lawsuit, filed earlier this month in a Louisiana court, claims damage to Stellarblade's business due to the game's use of a similar name.
The film company, owned by Griffith Chambers Mehaffey, specializes in commercials, documentaries, music videos, and independent films. Mehaffey argues that the game's name, "Stellar Blade," negatively impacts their online visibility, making it difficult for potential clients to find their company.
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages, attorney fees, and an injunction to prevent further use of the "Stellar Blade" name. Mehaffey also requests the destruction of all Stellar Blade marketing materials.
Mehaffey registered the "Stellarblade" trademark in June 2023, sending a cease-and-desist letter to Shift Up the following month. He claims ownership of the stellarblade.com domain since 2006 and has operated his film company under that name since 2011. Shift Up registered the "Stellar Blade" trademark in January 2023, after the game was initially announced as "Project Eve" in 2019 and renamed in 2022.
Mehaffey's lawyer contends that Sony and Shift Up should have been aware of Mehaffey's established rights. The lawyer emphasizes the similarities between the logos and the stylized "S," arguing that this creates confusion. The lawyer also highlights that the superior resources of the defendants have allegedly monopolized online search results, harming Mehaffey's business.
It's important to note that trademark rights can have retroactive application, potentially extending beyond the trademark's registration date. The outcome of this lawsuit remains to be seen.
