Sony intensifies legal pressure on Tencent, accusing the Chinese company of stealing ideas from Horizon

The matter is being handled by the same judge who oversaw the U.S. Federal Trade Commission’s case against Microsoft and Activision Blizzard.

According to Games Fray and the court filings, Sony has sought a preliminary injunction to prevent Tencent from using elements allegedly copied from Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West, including content from the title Light of Motiram.

In its submission to federal judge Jacqueline Scott Corley — the same jurist who presided over the FTC’s suit involving Microsoft and Activision Blizzard — Sony asks the court to bar Tencent from “reproducing, creating derivative works, displaying, performing, or distributing any works copied or derived from Horizon Works, including Light of Motiram.” The requested order would also prohibit use of the ALOY trademark or any similar designations until a final decision is reached in the case.

As described in the filings, the character Aloy is portrayed as “a young, fierce huntress-warrior with fiery red hair, prominent cheekbones, and attire that blends tribal motifs with industrial metallic elements.” The motion extends to visual, audio, and narrative aspects of the Horizon series — such as the design of mechanized creatures, tribal societies, post-apocalyptic environments, and even soundtrack themes — which Sony contends are strikingly similar to compositions by Joris de Man, including “City on the Mesa” and Horizon Zero Dawn’s main theme.

Source: iXBT.games