Popularity Search: Stellar Blade Trademark Dispute Complicates Naming

A Louisiana film production company, Stellarblade, is suing Sony and Shift Up, the developer of the PS5 game Stellar Blade, for alleged trademark infringement. The lawsuit, filed earlier this month in a Louisiana court, claims damage to Stellarblade's business due to the game's similar name.

Stellarblade, owned by Griffith Chambers Mehaffey, specializes in commercials, documentaries, music videos, and independent films. Mehaffey argues that Sony and Shift Up's use of "Stellar Blade" has negatively impacted their online visibility, making it harder for potential clients to find their company through online searches.

The lawsuit seeks monetary damages, attorney fees, and an injunction to prevent further use of the "Stellar Blade" name. Mehaffey also requests the destruction of all Stellar Blade marketing materials.

Mehaffey registered the "Stellarblade" trademark in June 2023, sending a cease and desist letter to Shift Up the following month. He claims ownership of the stellarblade.com domain since 2006 and has operated his film production company under that name since 2011. Shift Up registered the "Stellar Blade" trademark in January 2023, after the game was initially announced as "Project Eve" in 2019 and renamed in 2022.

Mehaffey's lawyer contends that Sony and Shift Up should have been aware of Stellarblade's pre-existing rights. They argue that the similarity of the names and logos, particularly the stylized 'S', is cause for concern, and that Stellar Blade's superior resources have dominated online search results, harming Stellarblade's business.

It's important to note that trademark rights can have retroactive application. The legal battle highlights the complexities of trademark disputes, especially when involving established businesses and large game developers.