Legal representatives for Sandfall Interactive have set their sights on the creator of the comic series *Académie Clair-Obscur*.
Olivier Gay, the author of the *Académie Clair-Obscur* comic, recently shared that he received a formal cease-and-desist from the legal team at Sandfall Interactive. The developers of the hit RPG *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* have demanded he halt all promotion and sales of his work, alleging that the comic is “exploiting the undeniable success of the game.”
Gay clarified the timeline of his project to provide context: the original concept was pitched to the publisher Drakoo as far back as 2019, and the official publishing contract was inked in early 2024—well before *Clair Obscur: Expedition 33* became a household name in gaming. He insists that the title was chosen for its relevance to a specific magical technique within his story and bears no connection to the video game.
The situation has sparked a wave of backlash on Reddit, where users are criticizing Sandfall’s aggressive stance. Many pointed out the irony of the claim, noting that “Clair-obscur” (chiaroscuro) is a centuries-old artistic term referring to the contrast of light and shadow, and has been in the public domain for over 500 years. Some observers suggested that the developers themselves might be unaware of the dispute, as corporate legal counsel often initiates such actions independently to protect intellectual property.
Despite the strong defense from the community, Olivier Gay admitted that he lacks the financial resources and emotional energy required to wage a legal war against a major studio. While he has agreed to rename his comic to avoid further conflict, he expressed deep disappointment over the ordeal. Ironically, Gay noted that he has always been a fan of Sandfall Interactive and had thoroughly enjoyed playing *Expedition 33*.
Source: iXBT.games