Epic Legal Battle: Sony Takes Action Against Tencent Over Horizon Clone

Sony Interactive Entertainment has taken legal action against Tencent, claiming its upcoming game, Light of Motiram, closely resembles the Horizon series. The lawsuit, filed in California on July 25, argues that Tencent’s game infringes on Sony’s copyright and trademark rights.

In the lawsuit, Sony describes Tencent’s work as a “slavish clone,” saying the copying is so obvious that fans have called it “crazy” and “shameless.” Sony aims to block the game’s release and is asking for a jury trial. The company expressed concern that Tencent’s marketing could mislead players into thinking Light of Motiram is part of the Horizon franchise, especially with a character reminiscent of Alcoy, the lead from Horizon.

Sony has also alleged that Tencent previously approached them to license the Horizon intellectual property, which Sony rejected. Now, they are seeking up to $150,000 for each infringement and want Tencent to turn over any promotional materials for destruction.

This isn’t the first time major gaming companies have clashed over intellectual property. For instance, in 2018, Epic Games faced backlash for similarities between Paragon and Fortnite. Such disputes highlight the ongoing challenge of original content in a highly competitive industry.

According to a recent survey conducted by the International Game Developers Association, nearly 70% of developers report concerns over copyright infringement. This incident with Sony and Tencent raises important questions about creativity versus copying in gaming.

Light of Motiram is still available on Steam for wishlisting, but it currently lacks a release date. The game is being developed by Polaris Quest, a Tencent subsidiary.

For more details, you can read the original report by Reuters.

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