Sony and Shift Up Face Trademark Infringement Lawsuit Over PS5 Game

Sony and developer Shift Up are currently facing a lawsuit from Stellarblade, a film production company based in Louisiana. The lawsuit alleges trademark infringement in relation to the release of the PS5 action-adventure game, Stellar Blade.

According to a report by IGN, Stellarblade LLC, along with its owner Griffith Chambers Mehaffey, filed the complaint in a Louisiana court recently. The lawsuit targets Sony, Shift Up, and Sony’s undisclosed liability insurance company, claiming that Stellarblade’s business is being harmed by the unauthorized use of the name Stellar Blade in the game.

Stellarblade, established in 2010, offers a range of multimedia entertainment services including film, documentary, and music video production. Mehaffey has owned the domain stellarblade.com since 2006. The complaint highlights that customers have faced difficulties in finding information about Stellarblade online since the game, initially known as Project Eve, was rebranded as Stellar Blade in 2021.

In a statement to IGN, Mehaffey’s lawyer elaborated on the negative impact of the situation, stating, “The defendants’ significant resources have monopolized online search results for Stellarblade, relegating Mr. Mehaffey’s established business to digital obscurity and jeopardizing his decade-long livelihood.”

Mehaffey argues that Shift Up and Sony’s trademark for Stellar Blade, filed in January 2023, is confusingly similar to his own Stellarblade trademark filed in June 2023. He is seeking damages, attorney fees, and a request for Shift Up and Sony to cease the use of Stellar Blade or any similar name in the future. Additionally, he demands that all Stellar Blade material in their possession be destroyed.

Eurogamer’s Jessica Orr praised Stellar Blade in her review earlier this year, commending its engaging combat and unique lack of character with a four-star rating.