Sony Files Complaint Against Tencent Over “Light of Motiram” – Allegations of Horizon Clone Concerns

sony Demands $150,000 Per Infringement from Tencent Over “Horizon” IP Dispute

New York, NY – In a significant legal growth, Sony Interactive Entertainment has initiated legal action against Tencent, alleging substantial damages due to teh misappropriation of intellectual property related to it’s acclaimed “Horizon” franchise. The gaming giant is seeking a staggering $150,000 for each instance of content copying, underscoring the gravity of the alleged infringement.

Furthermore, Sony is demanding the immediate handover of all products and marketing materials associated with Tencent’s game, Light of Motiram. This includes a directive for Sony to destroy these materials,indicating a desire to fully remove any potential confusion or dilution of the “Horizon” brand.Light of Motiram, currently available for wishlisting on Steam, is being developed by Polaris Quest, a subsidiary of Tencent. As of now, the game’s release date remains undisclosed.

This legal battle highlights a critical ongoing issue in the video game industry: the protection of intellectual property. As the market becomes increasingly interconnected and competitive, developers and publishers must remain vigilant in safeguarding their brands and creations. Disputes like this serve as a stark reminder of the legal and financial ramifications of IP infringement, emphasizing the importance of strict adherence to copyright laws and licensing agreements. The outcome of this case could set vital precedents for how intellectual property rights are enforced in the evolving landscape of digital entertainment.In related news, Tencent recently acquired a 15.75% stake in Arrowhead Game Studios, the acclaimed developer behind the popular title Helldivers 2, signaling its continued expansion and investment within the global gaming sector.

What legal principles regarding copyright protection and derivative works are relevant to Sony’s complaint against Tencent?

The Core of the Dispute: “Light of Motiram” and Horizon: Forbidden west

On July 28, 2025, Sony Interactive entertainment (SIE) officially filed a complaint with the South Korean fair Trade Commission (KFTC) against Tencent, alleging that Tencent’s newly released mobile game, light of Motiram, exhibits significant similarities to Sony’s critically acclaimed PlayStation exclusive, Horizon: Forbidden West. The complaint centers around accusations of copyright infringement and unfair competition, specifically focusing on the game’s visual design, core mechanics, and overall aesthetic. This legal battle highlights the growing tensions surrounding intellectual property rights in the rapidly expanding mobile gaming market.

Key Allegations: A Detailed Breakdown

Sony’s complaint isn’t a broad accusation of inspiration; it’s a detailed list of specific elements where Light of Motiram allegedly copies Horizon: Forbidden West. These include:

Character Design: The protagonist of Light of Motiram shares striking resemblances to Aloy, the heroine of Horizon, in terms of facial features, body type, and overall attire.The use of a bow and arrow as a primary weapon further reinforces this comparison.

Machine Designs: The robotic creatures featured in Light of Motiram bear a significant resemblance to the machines in Horizon. Sony points to specific machine types and their functionalities as being directly copied. This includes the visual design, movement patterns, and combat behaviors.

User Interface (UI) and User Experiance (UX): Elements of the Horizon UI, such as the resource management system and the visual presentation of quest objectives, are reportedly mirrored in Light of Motiram.

World Design & Environment: The overall aesthetic of the open-world environment in light of Motiram, including the lush vegetation, ruined structures, and post-apocalyptic setting, closely mimics the world of Horizon: forbidden West.

Gameplay Mechanics: The core gameplay loop of hunting machines, crafting resources, and upgrading equipment is a central element of both games, and Sony argues that Light of Motiram directly replicates this loop.

Tencent’s Response and Initial Statements

Tencent has acknowledged the complaint but maintains that Light of motiram is an original work. In a public statement, a Tencent spokesperson stated that the game draws inspiration from a variety of sources, including mythology and science fiction, and that any similarities to Horizon: Forbidden west are coincidental. They emphasized their commitment to respecting intellectual property rights and expressed confidence that the KFTC will reach a fair conclusion. they also highlighted the differences in platform and target audience,arguing that a mobile game and a PlayStation exclusive cater to diffrent player expectations.

The Legal Landscape: Copyright and Game cloning

This case raises important questions about the boundaries of inspiration and the definition of copyright infringement in the gaming industry. While inspiration is generally permissible,direct copying of protected elements – such as character designs,machine models,and core gameplay mechanics – can constitute a violation of copyright law.

Copyright Protection: Copyright law protects original works of authorship, including video games. This protection extends to the game’s code, art assets, music, and story.

Derivative Works: creating a “derivative work” based on a copyrighted work without permission is also a violation of copyright law. A derivative work is one that is substantially based on or derived from one or more existing works.

Fair Use: The “fair use” doctrine allows for limited use of copyrighted material without permission for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, or research. Though, this doctrine is frequently enough narrowly applied in the context of commercial video games.

Implications for the Mobile Gaming Market

The Sony vs. Tencent dispute has broader implications for the mobile gaming market, which is notorious for “clone” games – titles that closely imitate the gameplay and aesthetics of popular games.

Increased Scrutiny: This case could lead to increased scrutiny of mobile game growth practices and a crackdown on blatant copyright infringement.

Protecting IP: It sends a strong message to developers that intellectual property rights will be vigorously defended.

Innovation vs.Imitation: The outcome of this case could shape the balance between innovation and imitation in the mobile gaming industry.Will developers be encouraged to create truly original games, or will they continue to rely on copying prosperous formulas?

Previous Cases & Precedents

While not identical, several previous cases offer relevant precedents:

**Epic Games vs. Apple (