Sony Sues Tencent Over Alleged Copy of Horizon Series
In a bold move that has sent ripples through the gaming community, Sony has filed a lawsuit against Tencent, alleging that its upcoming game, Light of Motiram, is a slavish clone of the beloved Horizon series. This legal battle not only raises questions about intellectual property rights in the gaming industry but also highlights the fine line between inspiration and imitation in game design.
According to the lawsuit, Sony claims that Tencent’s game bears striking similarities to Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, featuring a young, red-headed female protagonist and tribal groups battling robotic creatures in a post-apocalyptic setting. The timing of the lawsuit is particularly intriguing, as it follows Tencent’s attempt to collaborate with Sony on a new Horizon game, which Sony declined. This has led to accusations that Tencent went ahead and created a game that closely mirrors Sony’s intellectual property despite the rejection.
As the gaming world watches this case unfold, it poses a significant question: How far can developers go in drawing inspiration from existing franchises before crossing the line into copyright infringement? The outcome of this lawsuit could set a precedent for future game development and collaborations in the industry. Will this case redefine the boundaries of creativity in gaming, or will it serve as a cautionary tale for developers?
Original source: https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/sony-sues-tencent-claiming-its-light-of-motiram-game-is-a-slavish-clone-of-its-horizon-series/