Clash over Name Leads to Confusion: "Stellar Blade" vs "Stellarblade" Lawsuit

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 that Stellarblade's business, specializing in commercials, documentaries, music videos, and independent films, has suffered damage due to the game's use of the similar name.

The plaintiff, Griffith Chambers Mehaffey, argues that the game's name hinders his company's online visibility, making it difficult for potential clients to find his business through online searches. He seeks monetary damages, attorney fees, and an injunction preventing further use of the "Stellar Blade" trademark, including the destruction of all related game materials.

Mehaffey registered the "Stellarblade" trademark in June 2023, following a cease and desist letter sent to Shift Up the previous month. He claims ownership of the stellarblade.com domain since 2006, and use of the name in his business since 2011. The defense argues that Stellar Blade, initially known as "Project Eve," was announced in 2019 and the trademark registered in January 2023, preceding Mehaffey's registration.

Mehaffey's lawyer contends that Sony and Shift Up should have been aware of his pre-existing rights. The lawyer highlights the similarity between the logos and the stylized "S" as further evidence of infringement. The lawsuit also points out that trademark rights can often have retroactive application.

This case raises complex questions regarding trademark precedence and the impact of established businesses facing competition from larger entities in the digital space. The outcome will likely have implications for both companies involved and for future trademark disputes in the gaming industry.