Sony Interactive Entertainment has initiated legal action against Tencent concerning its forthcoming game, Light of Motiram, alleging that it is an unoriginal imitation of the popular Horizon franchise.
The lawsuit, lodged in California on July 25, accuses Tencent of blatant copyright and trademark infringement. Sony is seeking a jury trial and aims to prevent the game`s release. The company highlighted that the public`s reaction to Tencent`s title has included strong terms like `crazy,` `insane,` and `shameless,` underscoring the perceived overt similarities to Horizon.
Adding to its claims, Sony stated that Tencent had previously approached them with a proposal to license the Horizon intellectual property, which Sony had rejected.
Sony contends that Tencent is intentionally misleading gamers into believing Light of Motiram is a new installment in the Horizon series, partly by promoting it with a character strikingly similar to Horizon`s protagonist, Aloy.
Sony asserts that Tencent`s actions have inflicted, and continue to inflict, irreversible damage. The company is demanding statutory damages, potentially up to $150,000 for each infringed work within the Horizon franchise. Furthermore, Sony requests that Tencent surrender all infringing products and marketing materials for destruction.
Despite the legal challenge, Light of Motiram is still listed on Steam for wishlisting, though a release date has not been announced. The game is being developed by Polaris Quest, a Tencent subsidiary.