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 lawsuit, filed earlier this month, alleges that Stellar Blade's use of a similar name and logo infringes upon Stellarblade's existing trademark. Both trademarks are duly registered.

Griffith Chambers Mehaffey, owner of Stellarblade, claims the game's name has harmed his business, impacting online visibility and making it difficult for potential clients to find his film production company. He seeks monetary damages, attorney fees, an injunction preventing further use of the "Stellar Blade" name, and the destruction of all related game materials.

Stellarblade registered its trademark in June 2023, following a cease and desist letter to Shift Up. Mehaffey has owned the stellarblade.com domain since 2006 and operated his business under that name since 2011. Shift Up registered the Stellar Blade trademark in January 2023, after initially using the working title "Project Eve."

Mehaffey's lawyer argues that Sony and Shift Up should have been aware of Stellarblade's prior rights. The lawsuit highlights the similarity of the logos and the stylized "S" as further evidence of infringement. It's important to note that trademark rights can often be applied retroactively. The lawyer emphasizes the impact on Mehaffey's business, stating that the game's online presence has overshadowed his long-established company.

The legal battle highlights the complexities of trademark disputes, particularly when involving established smaller businesses and large corporations.