A Louisiana 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 alleges that the game's name damages Stellarblade's business and online visibility.
Registered Trademarks at the Heart of the Dispute
The core of the lawsuit centers on the similarity between the names "Stellarblade" and "Stellar Blade." Both trademarks are registered, leading to the legal conflict.
Stellarblade, owned by Griffith Chambers Mehaffey, claims its film production business (specializing in commercials, documentaries, music videos, and independent films) has suffered due to the game's name. Mehaffey argues that online searches for "Stellarblade" are now dominated by results for Stellar Blade, hindering his company's online presence.
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages, attorney fees, and an injunction to prevent further use of "Stellar Blade" (and variations thereof). Mehaffey also requests that all Stellar Blade materials be transferred to him for destruction.
Mehaffey registered the "Stellarblade" trademark in June 2023, following a cease and desist letter to Shift Up. He claims ownership of the stellarblade.com domain since 2006, using it for his business since 2011. Stellar Blade, initially known as "Project Eve," was renamed in 2022 and trademarked by Shift Up in January 2023.
Mehaffey's lawyer argues that Sony and Shift Up should have been aware of his established rights. The lawyer emphasizes the long-standing use of the "Stellarblade" name and the alleged monopolization of online search results by Stellar Blade, impacting Mehaffey's business. The similarity of the logos and the stylized "S" are also cited as points of contention.
It's important to note that trademark rights can have retroactive application, extending protection beyond the official registration date. The outcome of this lawsuit will depend on the court's interpretation of trademark law and the evidence presented.
