A Louisiana-based 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, filed earlier this month in a Louisiana court, alleges that the game's title infringes upon Stellarblade's existing trademark.
Stellarblade, owned by Griffith Chambers Mehaffey, specializes in commercials, documentaries, music videos, and independent films. Mehaffey claims that Sony and Shift Up's use of the nearly identical name "Stellar Blade" has harmed his business by reducing its online visibility. He argues that potential clients searching for "Stellarblade" are overwhelmed by results for the video game, hindering his company's ability to reach its target audience.
The lawsuit seeks monetary damages, attorney fees, and an injunction to prevent further use of the "Stellar Blade" trademark. Mehaffey also demands the destruction of all Stellar Blade marketing materials. He registered the "Stellarblade" trademark in June 2023, following a cease and desist letter to Shift Up the same month. He notes that he has owned the stellarblade.com domain since 2006 and operated his film company under that name since 2011. His legal representation emphasizes that Shift Up and Sony were likely aware of Mehaffey's pre-existing rights before adopting a nearly identical mark for their game, originally titled "Project Eve" before changing to "Stellar Blade" in 2022. Shift Up registered their trademark in January 2023.
Mehaffey's lawyer highlights the similarity between the logos and the stylized "S" in both names as further evidence of infringement. The lawyer contends that the overwhelming online presence of Stellar Blade is pushing Stellarblade into "digital obscurity," jeopardizing Mehaffey's business. They stress the principle that trademark rights can often have retroactive effect, extending beyond the official registration date. The legal battle highlights the complexities of trademark law and the potential conflicts arising from similar brand names in different industries.
