Stellar Blade vs \"Stellarblade\" Lawsuit Makes It More Confusing

A Louisiana-based film production company, Stellarblade, has filed a trademark infringement lawsuit against Sony and Shift Up, the creators of the PS5 game Stellar Blade.

Trademark Infringement Lawsuit Against Stellar Blade

The lawsuit, filed earlier this month in a Louisiana court, alleges that Sony and Shift Up's use of the name "Stellar Blade" infringes on Stellarblade's existing trademark. Griffith Chambers Mehaffey, owner of the film production company, claims the game's name has harmed his business by reducing its online visibility. He argues that potential clients searching for "Stellarblade" are now overwhelmed by results for the video game.

Mehaffey's legal action seeks monetary damages, attorney fees, and an injunction to prevent further use of "Stellar Blade" (or similar variations). He also demands the destruction of all Stellar Blade marketing materials.

The crux of the dispute lies in the timing of trademark registrations. Mehaffey registered the "Stellarblade" trademark in June 2023, after issuing a cease-and-desist letter to Shift Up the previous 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 initially using the working title "Project Eve" for the game since 2019.

Mehaffey's lawyer contends that Sony and Shift Up should have been aware of his pre-existing rights. The lawyer stated to IGN that the similarity of the names and logos, particularly the stylized "S," is a key element of the case. They argue that the game's significantly larger marketing presence has overshadowed Mehaffey's business online, impacting its viability. It's important to note that trademark rights can often have retroactive application.

The legal battle highlights the complexities of trademark law and the potential challenges faced by smaller businesses when competing with larger corporations for brand recognition.