Stellar Blade Copyright Dispute Clouds Launch

An American film production company has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Sony and developer Shift Up concerning the popular PS5 action-adventure game Stellar Blade.

Film Company "Stellarblade" Sues Over Alleged Trademark Violation

Both Parties Hold Registered Trademarks

Shift Up, the studio behind the PS5 hit Stellar Blade, along with Sony, faces legal action from Louisiana-based film production firm "Stellarblade." The company filed the trademark infringement lawsuit in a Louisiana court earlier this month.

Griffith Chambers Mehaffey, owner of Stellarblade, contends that their business specializing in "commercials, documentaries, music videos, and independent films" suffered damage due to the game's similar name. Mehaffey asserts that search results for their company now compete with the game's popularity, making it harder for potential clients to find their services online.

The lawsuit seeks financial compensation, legal fees, and a court order preventing Sony and Shift Up from using the "Stellar Blade" name. Additionally, Mehaffey demands all promotional materials bearing the contested name be handed over for destruction.

Mehaffey secured the "Stellarblade" trademark in June 2023 and sent a cease-and-desist letter to Shift Up the following month. Court documents reveal he has owned the stellarblade.com domain since 2006, using it for his film business since 2011.

Mehaffey's legal team told IGN it's "unlikely Shift Up and Sony were unaware of our client's existing rights." Notably, Stellar Blade was originally titled "Project Eve" when announced in 2019 before rebranding in 2022. Shift Up registered their trademark in January 2023, preceding Mehaffey's June filing by several months.

"Our client has built his business under the STELLARBLADE name for nearly 15 years," Mehaffey's attorney stated. "While we support fair competition, we cannot allow major corporations to overshadow small businesses' established rights. The defendants' marketing dominance has effectively buried our client's online presence." The complaint also highlights visual similarities between both logos.

Legal experts note that trademark protections can extend retroactively, not limited to registration dates.