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 Stellarblade's existing trademark.
Conflicting Trademarks
The core of the dispute centers on the similarity between the names "Stellarblade" and "Stellar Blade." Stellarblade, owned by Griffith Chambers Mehaffey, specializes in commercials, documentaries, music videos, and independent films. Mehaffey claims that Sony and Shift Up's use of the nearly identical name has harmed his business by reducing its online visibility. He argues that potential clients searching for "Stellarblade" are overwhelmed by results for the video game.
Mehaffey seeks monetary damages, attorney fees, and an injunction to prevent further use of the "Stellar Blade" trademark. He also demands the destruction of all Stellar Blade marketing materials. He registered the "Stellarblade" trademark in June 2023, after sending a cease-and-desist letter to Shift Up the previous month. He claims ownership of the stellarblade.com domain since 2006, used in conjunction with his film company since 2011.
Timeline and Arguments
Stellar Blade, initially known as "Project Eve," was announced in 2019 and renamed in 2022. Shift Up registered the "Stellar Blade" 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 long-standing use of the "Stellarblade" name and domain, asserting that the game's superior resources have monopolized online search results, harming Mehaffey's business. The similarity of the logos and stylized "S" is also cited as a point of contention.
It's important to note that trademark rights can have retroactive application, extending beyond the official registration date. The outcome of this lawsuit will depend on the court's assessment of the trademark infringement claims and the evidence presented by both sides.
