Stellar Blade vs \"Stellarblade\" Lawsuit Makes It More Confusing

A Louisiana-based film production company, "Stellarblade," is suing Sony and Shift Up, the developers of the PS5 game Stellar Blade, for alleged trademark infringement. The lawsuit, filed earlier this month in a Louisiana court, claims that the game's title damages Stellarblade's business and hinders its online visibility.

The plaintiff, Griffith Chambers Mehaffey, argues that the similarity between the names and logos, particularly the stylized "S," causes consumer confusion. He further contends that Stellar Blade's online presence overshadows his company's, making it difficult for potential clients to find his film production services.

Mehaffey's legal action seeks monetary compensation, attorney fees, and an injunction to prevent further use of the "Stellar Blade" trademark. He also demands the destruction of all Stellar Blade materials. He registered the "Stellarblade" trademark in June 2023, after sending a cease-and-desist letter to Shift Up. He claims to have owned the stellarblade.com domain since 2006 and operated his business under that name since 2011.

The defense's argument hinges on the fact that Stellar Blade, originally titled "Project Eve," only adopted its current name in 2022, with the trademark registration following in January 2023 – months before Mehaffey's registration. However, Mehaffey's lawyer argues that Sony and Shift Up should have been aware of his pre-existing rights. The lawyer emphasizes the long-standing use of the "Stellarblade" name and domain, highlighting the alleged harm caused by the game's dominance in online search results.

The case highlights the complexities of trademark law, including the retroactive application of trademark rights. The outcome will depend on the court's assessment of the similarity between the marks, the likelihood of consumer confusion, and the timing of the respective trademark registrations and business operations.