Stellar Blade Lawsuit Adds Fuel to Name Confusion

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 the game's title infringes upon Stellarblade's existing trademark.

The core of the dispute centers on the similarity between the names "Stellarblade" and "Stellar Blade." Both trademarks are registered, creating a legal battle over which company holds legitimate claim.

Stellarblade, owned by Griffith Chambers Mehaffey, claims the game's use of a similar name has harmed its online visibility, making it difficult for potential clients to find their film production company's website (stellarblade.com, registered since 2006). Mehaffey's lawsuit seeks monetary damages, attorney fees, and an injunction to prevent further use of the "Stellar Blade" name. He even requests the destruction of all Stellar Blade marketing materials.

Adding complexity, Mehaffey registered his "Stellarblade" trademark in June 2023, after Shift Up's January 2023 registration of "Stellar Blade" (the game was initially titled "Project Eve"). However, Stellarblade's lawyer argues that Mehaffey's prior use of the name and domain since 2006 and 2011, respectively, should grant precedence, highlighting the potential for retroactive trademark application. They also point to similarities in the logos and stylized "S" as further grounds for the claim.

The lawyer contends that Sony and Shift Up should have been aware of Mehaffey's established rights. The case raises questions about the due diligence of large companies when adopting names similar to pre-existing trademarks, particularly in the digital age where online search results heavily influence brand visibility. The outcome will have implications for trademark law and the responsibilities of larger companies regarding the intellectual property rights of smaller businesses.