Sony Sues Tencent Over Alleged Game Clone
In a significant move that has sent ripples through the gaming industry, Sony has filed a lawsuit against Tencent, alleging that its upcoming game, Light of Motiram, is a slavish clone of Sony’s acclaimed Horizon series. The lawsuit, initiated in California federal court, claims that the similarities between Light of Motiram and Horizon Zero Dawn, as well as Horizon Forbidden West, are so pronounced that they could mislead players into thinking they are part of the same franchise.
The crux of the lawsuit lies in the timeline of events: after Tencent began developing Light of Motiram, they approached Sony with a proposal to collaborate on a new Horizon game, which Sony declined. Despite this rejection, Tencent allegedly proceeded to create a game that closely mirrors the Horizon universe, featuring a strikingly similar protagonist and setting. This situation raises critical questions about intellectual property rights and the boundaries of creative inspiration in the gaming world.
As the case unfolds, it will be interesting to see how the courts interpret the nuances of copyright and trademark laws in the context of video games. Will this lawsuit set a precedent for future cases involving game development and intellectual property? Only time will tell.
Original source: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sony-sues-tencent-claiming-its-light-of-motiram-game-is-a-slavish-clone-of-its-horizon-series/