Sony files lawsuit against Tencent over Light of Motiram

Sony is taking legal action against Tencent for similarities between their games.

Sony challenges Tencent over alleged Horizon game copy

Sony is suing Tencent for alleged copyright and trademark infringement regarding the game Light of Motiram. This post-apocalyptic survival game, developed by Tencent studio Polaris Quest, is said to closely resemble Sony's Horizon franchise. In its California federal court filing, Sony claims that Light of Motiram is a "slavish clone" of Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West. Sony asserts that Tencent began developing its game in 2023 after proposing a collaboration to Sony, which was declined. Despite this, Tencent continued its development without Sony's approval. The complaint highlights that promotional materials for Light of Motiram bear a striking similarity to Horizon assets, including gameplay and music. Community reactions reflect this sentiment, with some suggesting that Light of Motiram appears to be directly copying material from Horizon. Sony aims to protect its intellectual property rights as it prepares to advance its lawsuit towards a resolution.

This legal action underscores growing tensions in the gaming industry over intellectual property rights. As game developers strive to innovate and set themselves apart, accusations of copying have become increasingly common. Sony's aggressive stance may serve as a warning to other companies about the importance of originality in game design. Moreover, it reveals underlying frustrations that companies like Sony face when large competitors like Tencent enter the market with similar offerings. The outcome of this lawsuit could set a significant precedent regarding what constitutes copyright infringement in video games, an area that continues to evolve alongside technology.

Highlights

The implications of this lawsuit may extend beyond these two companies, affecting industry standards for originality.