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 developer of the PS5 game Stellar Blade. The suit alleges that Stellar Blade's use of a similar name and logo has caused damage to Stellarblade's business.

Conflicting Trademark Claims

The core of the dispute centers on the strikingly similar names. Stellarblade, owned by Griffith Chambers Mehaffey, claims its trademark, registered in June 2023, predates Shift Up's registration (January 2023) for the game's title. However, Stellar Blade was initially known as "Project Eve" before its name change in 2022.

Stellarblade's complaint argues that the similarity between the names and logos, particularly the stylized "S," causes confusion among consumers, hindering their online visibility. Mehaffey further claims ownership of the stellarblade.com domain since 2006, used in conjunction with his film production company since 2011.

Legal Arguments and Demands

Mehaffey's legal team asserts that Sony and Shift Up should have been aware of his established trademark rights before adopting the nearly identical name for their game. They argue that Stellar Blade's superior resources have dominated online search results, pushing Stellarblade into relative obscurity.

The lawsuit seeks monetary damages, attorney fees, an injunction preventing further use of the "Stellar Blade" trademark (and variations thereof), and the destruction of all related materials. The legal team emphasizes the principle that trademark rights can have retroactive application, potentially extending protection beyond the official registration date. The case highlights the complexities of trademark law and the potential challenges faced by smaller businesses when competing with larger corporations.