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

A Louisiana film production company, Stellarblade, is suing Sony and Shift Up, the creators 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 name damages Stellarblade's business and hinders its online visibility.

Stellarblade, owned by Griffith Chambers Mehaffey, specializes in commercials, documentaries, music videos, and independent films. Mehaffey argues that the similarity between the names "Stellarblade" and "Stellar Blade," including their logos and stylized "S," causes confusion and harms his business's online presence. He claims customers searching for "Stellarblade" are overwhelmed by results for the video game.

The lawsuit seeks monetary damages, attorney fees, and an injunction preventing further use of the "Stellar Blade" name. Mehaffey also requests that all Stellar Blade materials be transferred to him for destruction.

Mehaffey registered the "Stellarblade" trademark in June 2023, after sending a cease-and-desist letter to Shift Up the previous month. He notes that he's owned the stellarblade.com domain since 2006 and operated his film company under that name since 2011. Shift Up registered the "Stellar Blade" trademark in January 2023, after initially using the working title "Project Eve" for the game.

Mehaffey's lawyer contends that Sony and Shift Up should have been aware of his established rights before adopting a nearly identical mark. They argue that the game's superior resources have monopolized online search results, pushing Mehaffey's business into obscurity.

It's important to note that trademark rights can have retroactive application, extending protection beyond the official registration date. The outcome of this lawsuit will depend on the court's interpretation of trademark law and the evidence presented by both sides.