Tencent Responds to Horizon Plagiarism Lawsuit: “Fame Doesn’t Create a Trademark”
The legal battle between Sony and Tencent continues. Sony accuses the Chinese giant of plagiarizing the Horizon series with its survival MMO, Light of Motiram, while Tencent is asking for the case to be dismissed, arguing that Sony is trying to monopolize common pop culture themes found in video games.
Background of the Dispute
For those who missed the beginning of the case, the controversy centers around Light of Motiram, a game developed by a Tencent-affiliated studio. According to Sony, it is a “blatant clone” of Horizon Zero Dawn and Horizon Forbidden West.
The lawsuit, filed in July 2025, accuses Tencent of copyright and trademark infringement, which Sony claims threatens the success of the Horizon series. Tencent responded by requesting the case’s dismissal, even asserting that Sony sued the wrong entity.
Tencent’s Defense: Aloy’s Fame Is Not a Trademark
In the most recent chapter of the dispute, Tencent submitted a 21-page defense memorandum, outlining reasons the lawsuit should be dismissed. Along with claiming Sony targeted the wrong company, Tencent’s defense focuses on other elements cited by the accusation, including the alleged plagiarism of the character Aloy.
According to Tencent, Sony has not clearly identified a registered trademark. The documents state that Sony considers the character Aloy to be a trademark based on public recognition. However, Tencent argues that clothing, accessories, and visual traits are not enough to define a trademark.
“Aloy appearances as a video game character do not represent her functioning as an identifier of the source of a product or service,” the memorandum reads. Aloy, being a playable character, naturally appears in Horizon’s promotional material, but that alone does not make her a trademark—just as other elements like “robotic animals” or a “post-apocalyptic world” are narrative features common in pop culture and not unique to Horizon.
It remains to be seen whether these arguments will be enough to support Tencent’s motion for dismissal, and how Sony plans to respond.
