Tencent Sues Sony: Light of Motiram Copyright Dispute
- Tencent is actively contesting Sony's allegations that its forthcoming game, Light of Motiram, is a direct and unauthorized copy of Sony's popular Horizon franchise.
- The legal battle began in July 2024 when Sony filed a copyright lawsuit against Tencent, seeking a jury trial and an injunction to prevent the release of light...
- In its defense, Tencent contends that Sony is attempting to claim ownership over "ubiquitous genre ingredients" rather than protecting legitimate intellectual property.
Tencent Disputes Sony’s “Slavish Clone” Claims Regarding ‘Light of Motiram‘
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Published September 18, 2025, at 20:19:13 UTC
Tencent is actively contesting Sony’s allegations that its forthcoming game, Light of Motiram
, is a direct and unauthorized copy of Sony’s popular Horizon
franchise. Tencent argues that Sony isn’t protecting intellectual property, but rather attempting to monopolize common game design elements. The dispute centers on claims of copyright and trademark infringement.
The legal battle began in July 2024 when Sony filed a copyright lawsuit against Tencent, seeking a jury trial and an injunction to prevent the release of light of Motiram
. Sony’s complaint alleges that Tencent deliberately copied key elements of the Horizon
series, including the protagonist Aloy, with the intent of misleading players into believing Light of Motiram
was a new installment in the Horizon
series. Sony specifically cited promotional gameplay videos and social media posts as contributing to potential consumer confusion.
Tencent’s Response: Genre Conventions vs. Proprietary Assets
In its defense, Tencent contends that Sony is attempting to claim ownership over “ubiquitous genre ingredients” rather than protecting legitimate intellectual property. The company suggests Sony’s lawsuit isn’t about preventing piracy or plagiarism, but about controlling the open landscape of game development within the action role-playing genre. This argument hinges on the idea that certain elements – such as open-world environments, bow-and-arrow combat, and robotic creatures – are common tropes and shouldn’t be exclusively owned by a single company.
The Horizon Franchise and its Impact
The Horizon
series, developed by Guerrilla Games and published by sony Interactive Entertainment, has been a critical and commercial success. Horizon Zero Dawn
(2017) and Horizon Forbidden West
(2022) have collectively sold over 47 million copies worldwide as of August 2024, establishing Aloy as a prominent figure in the gaming industry. The franchise is known for its compelling narrative, stunning visuals, and unique blend of post-apocalyptic and science fiction themes.
| Horizon Game | Release Date | Estimated Sales (as of Aug 2024) |
|---|---|---|
| Horizon Zero Dawn | February 28, 2017 | ~22 million |
| Horizon Forbidden West | February 18, 2022 | ~25 million |
‘Light of Motiram’: Details and Release Window
Light of Motiram
is an open-world action role-playing game developed by Tencent’s TiMi Studio Group. While specific details about the game remain limited, promotional materials showcase a visually similar aesthetic to the Horizon
series, featuring a female protagonist utilizing a bow and arrow in a world populated by mechanical creatures. The game currently has a release window of Q4 2027 and has not yet been released.