TITLE: Sony Blasts Tencent’s Legal Defense as “Nonsense” in High-Stakes Horizon Clone Lawsuit
In a dramatic escalation of the gaming industry’s latest intellectual property battle, Sony Interactive Entertainment has filed a scathing response to Tencent’s motion to dismiss their copyright infringement lawsuit, directly labeling the Chinese tech giant’s legal defense as “nonsense.” The legal confrontation centers on Tencent’s upcoming game Light of Motiram, which Sony alleges is a “slavish clone” of their critically acclaimed Horizon franchise developed by Guerrilla Games.
The controversy began in November 2024 when Tencent revealed Light of Motiram, immediately drawing comparisons to Sony’s Horizon series for its similar post-apocalyptic setting, mechanical creature designs, and notably a red-haired female protagonist bearing striking resemblance to Horizon’s Aloy. As Sony escalates its legal battle against Tencent, the company has taken particular issue with Tencent’s claim that even Guerrilla Games admitted the Horizon concept wasn’t entirely original, calling this defense legally meritless.
The Core of Sony’s Legal Argument
In court documents first obtained by The Game Post, Sony systematically dismantles Tencent’s position point by point. “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,” Sony’s filing states. “This is nonsense. The damage is done, and it continues.”
Sony emphasizes that despite public outcry and recognition that Light of Motiram appeared to be a knock-off, Tencent “remained undeterred” in its promotional activities. The company argues that the continued marketing of the allegedly infringing game has already caused the very harm cited in their copyright suit, regardless of the delayed release date.
Corporate Structure and Alleged “Shell Game”
One of the most revealing aspects of Sony’s latest filing concerns Tencent’s corporate structure. Sony accuses Tencent of attempting to “avoid liability by playing a shell game with its brands and entities.” Specifically, Tencent argued that Sony should be suing Polaris Quest and Aurora Studios—the development and publishing teams behind Light of Motiram—rather than their parent company, Tencent Holdings.
Sony forcefully counters this position by detailing Tencent Holdings’ direct involvement in the gaming business. “Tencent Holdings describes its own business as having a Games division that ‘own[s] Aurora Studios’,” the filing notes, adding that Tencent Holdings reports all gaming revenue and debt in its annual reports without distinguishing between subsidiaries. The document also highlights that Tencent uses its master brand name to advertise games like Light of Motiram without clarifying subsidiary distinctions.
The corporate connections extend to leadership: Sony points to Ma Xiaoyi, a Tencent Holdings senior manager who the company represents as “responsible for international publishing of Tencent Games.” This level of integration and control, Sony argues, makes Tencent Holdings the appropriate defendant.
Trademark Infringement Claims Beyond Copyright
Beyond copyright concerns, Sony’s filing delves deeply into trademark infringement allegations regarding the red-haired protagonist. The company asserts that Aloy has become “a symbol of the PlayStation and Sony brand,” and that Tencent’s creation of a nearly identical character constitutes trademark violation.
“Tencent’s 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,” Sony claims, quoting observers who stated the character “resembles Aloy to a tee, red hair and all.” The filing even includes a journalist’s comment that “If someone told me this is a spin-off of [Horizon], I would easily believe them.”
Broader Industry Implications and Next Steps
This case arrives amid significant technological transformation across the tech sector, where Microsoft wants users to talk to their PCs using AI interfaces and companies increasingly leverage artificial intelligence in various operations. However, the gaming industry faces particular challenges with intellectual property protection as development tools become more accessible and global competition intensifies.
The timing is especially notable given current cybersecurity concerns, including reports that AI-powered phishing attacks have surged 450% in effectiveness, highlighting how rapidly digital technologies are evolving across multiple sectors.
Sony is now pushing for the court to deny Tencent’s motion to dismiss and proceed directly to the discovery phase. This would allow Sony to examine Tencent’s internal documents regarding Light of Motiram‘s development, potentially uncovering evidence to strengthen their infringement case.
The outcome could establish important precedents for how courts handle similar cases involving alleged game clones, particularly as Microsoft’s AI ambitions continue redefining human-computer interaction and gaming experiences evolve. The gaming hardware landscape is also shifting, with companies like ASUS expanding ROG Ally handheld gaming devices globally alongside traditional console competition.
Parallel Industry Legal Battles
This high-profile lawsuit isn’t occurring in isolation. The video game industry is currently witnessing multiple significant legal confrontations, including the battle between Krafton and the co-founders of Unknown Worlds, the studio behind Subnautica and its sequel. These cases collectively highlight how intellectual property disputes are becoming increasingly common as the gaming market expands globally.
The timing coincides with broader adoption of AI technologies across industries, including reports that Amazon and Chobani have implemented Stella’s AI interview systems for hiring processes, demonstrating how artificial intelligence is transforming operations beyond gaming.
What makes this case particularly significant is the stature of the companies involved—Sony as a console platform holder and first-party publisher, and Tencent as the world’s largest gaming company by revenue. The resolution could influence how major players approach intellectual property protection and competitive development practices for years to come.
As the legal process continues, both companies are likely to deploy substantial resources given the precedent-setting potential. The gaming industry and intellectual property attorneys worldwide will be watching closely as this battle between tech titans unfolds, with implications that could reshape how copyright and trademark protections are applied to character designs, game mechanics, and overall aesthetic presentations in the interactive entertainment space.
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