Sony Dismisses Tencent’s Defense of Horizon Clone, ‘Light of Motiram,’ as ‘Nonsense’

Tencent’s Light of Motiram Faces Fierce Legal Battle with Sony

In November 2024, Tencent announced Light of Motiram, a massively multiplayer online game (MMO) that drew immediate comparisons to the acclaimed Horizon series developed by Guerrilla Games and published on PlayStation. The striking similarities did not go unnoticed, prompting Sony to file a lawsuit against Tencent, labeling the game a “slavish clone.”This reaction resonated with industry observers who were largely unsurprised by the legal confrontation.

Tencent’s Response and Legal Maneuvering

In the wake of the lawsuit, Tencent undertook substantial modifications to Light of Motiram’s Steam page. These changes included alterations to visual elements and the game’s description, seemingly aimed at obscuring the direct correlations with Horizon. Tencent subsequently responded to Sony’s legal action by filing a motion to dismiss, arguing that even Guerrilla Games acknowledged the lack of originality in the Horizon concept itself.

Sony’s Counterattack

As tensions escalated, Sony wasted no time in crafting a rebuttal to Tencent’s motion. In a recent filing reported by The Game Post, Sony deemed Tencent’s defense as “nonsense.”The tech giant asserted that the ongoing promotion of Light of Motiram has caused irreparable harm, contradicting Tencent’s claims of delayed release. According to Sony, the damage was already sustained by then and continues to accumulate.

“Tencent remarkably contends SIE’s claims are unripe because – despite having announced and continuously promoted its game for months – Tencent (purportedly) delayed Light of Motiram’s release until 2027 after SIE sued. This is nonsense. The damage is done, and it continues.”

The Legal Stakes: Brands and Liability

Sony’s lawsuit elaborates on claims that Tencent is employing “a shell game”concerning its brands and subsidiaries. The lawsuit specifies that Sony believes it should directly target Tencent Holdings, the parent company, since it controls the intellectual property rights to Light of Motiram, maintains the U. S.trademark, and operates the official website. This perspective aligns with Sony’s belief that holding Tencent Holdings accountable is justified given its overarching management of Tencent Games.

In contrast, Tencent argues that the lawsuit should focus on Polaris Quest and Aurora Studios, the development teams responsible for Light of Motiram, even though both entities are subsidiaries of Tencent Holdings.

“After SIE was forced to sue, Tencent attempted to avoid liability by playing a shell game with its brands and entities. Tencent tried to shield Defendants that it owns and/or controls from service of process and now seeks to escape jurisdiction over the parent entity, Tencent Holdings.”

Trademark Issues and Public Perception

In its latest filing, Sony has once again highlighted public sentiment, where many have labeled Light of Motiram a clear copy of its Horizon counterpart. It further asserts potential trademark infringement concerning the similarity between Light of Motiram’s red-haired protagonist and Aloy, a hallmark character from the Horizon universe. Sony contends that this likeness has led to considerable media coverage drawing parallels between the two characters.

“Tencent’s own red-haired ‘lookalike’ was so egregious that numerous journalists and Horizon fans noted the striking similarities between the ALOY Character Mark and Tencent’s use of the Aloy lookalike, stating Tencent’s lookalike ‘resembles Aloy to a tee, red hair and all.’”

Looking Ahead: The Implications of the Lawsuit

As the lawsuit unfolds, Sony is pushing the court to dismiss Tencent’s motion and expedite the discovery phase. This will allow Sony to scrutinize Tencent’s internal documents relating to Light of Motiram and its development processes. Such investigations may provide crucial evidence to substantiate Sony’s claims of copyright infringement.

This legal battle, regardless of its outcome, has the potential to shape precedents for future copyright disputes in the gaming industry. Stay tuned for further updates as this situation evolves.

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