Sony filed legal action against Tencent for alleged copyright and trademark violations related to Light of Motiram. The gaming giant accused Tencent of creating what Sony termed a slavish clone of its Horizon franchise. Media outlets widely criticized Motiram as a knock-off upon its November 2024 announcement. Industry observers coined the phrase Horizon Zero Originality when describing the similarities. Sony cited these public reactions as evidence in its legal complaint.
Tencent had previously approached Sony with a proposal to collaborate on a Horizon project during 2024. Sony rejected this partnership offer before Motiram's development became public knowledge. The gameplay trailer released by Tencent failed to demonstrate significant differences from Horizon's established mechanics and visual design. Legal experts note that proving copyright infringement in court presents greater challenges than public perception suggests. The case parallels Nintendo's ongoing litigation against PocketPair regarding Palworld and may establish essential precedents for future industry disputes.
Tencent had previously approached Sony with a proposal to collaborate on a Horizon project during 2024. Sony rejected this partnership offer before Motiram's development became public knowledge. The gameplay trailer released by Tencent failed to demonstrate significant differences from Horizon's established mechanics and visual design. Legal experts note that proving copyright infringement in court presents greater challenges than public perception suggests. The case parallels Nintendo's ongoing litigation against PocketPair regarding Palworld and may establish essential precedents for future industry disputes.
