The question here to me is would an average user download Tencent's game believing it to be a Horizon title (ignoring the name difference). If so, then that could mean monetary loss for Sony due to a lost sale, and potential revenue for Tencent.

You could show me a random selection of screenshots/art from the two and I wouldn't be able to tell you if it was Horizon or the other game, so it is a very close likeness, and I can see why Sony aren't happy with that. It's not that they own a font or certain scenes, it's that the whole combination of all of that makes it hard for an average user to identify the difference.

Yeah, LoM is so visually similar to Horizon that it risks diluting Sony's IP by it's mere existence, and I think there is a valid case there.

Ultimately, the real ringer is that if LoM had simply gone for a visually distinct dino style, they would have been in the clear because really everything else about Horizon is more or less cookie cutter (I mean I enjoyed my time with it just fine, but its really the Dino style that give Horizon it's brand).

Hell they didn't even go with unique animals to base the designs around, there were at least a handful that were essentially copy pasted from HZD.

There is a reason "legally distinct" is a tongue in cheek expression, you need to be able to fool the average idiot that your thing isn't the competitor's thing and in this case LoM fails that test.

TomorrowThe fonts you mentioned are widely used. The horizon font is a custom creation. There is a fan made horizon font, but obviously no one is using that to make a game. Sony properly licenses the third party software they use.

You cant tell me that Tencent accidentally arrived at this font or that this font is merely inspired by Horizon.

Isn't shit like fonts covered by patent law, not copyright? It should just be a design patent, so Tencent would be in compliance.

TomorrowYou cant tell me that Tencent accidentally arrived at this font or that this font is merely inspired by Horizon.

They don't look remotely close to me. Yes, they both have a "cyber"-ish vibe to them, but that's it (understandable, given the context). Horizon's letters are rounded while Tencent's are blocky. Horizon's are mixed-cased, Tencent's are small caps.

agatong55"The suit also alleges that Tencent asked Sony to collaborate on a new Horizon game, which Sony declined. Sony claims that the company began development on Light of Motiram afterward, despite the rejected offer."
www.techradar.com/gaming/playstation/sony-is-suing-tencent-claiming-the-companys-survival-game-light-of-motiram-is-a-slavish-clone-of-horizon-zero-dawn

Tencent asked sony for the rights and pitched them this game, sony said no but tencent still went on with the development even though they knew what was going to happen.

Sony didn't develop it however it was a pitch for a separately developed game that might fit well as a potential Horizon game spinoff in another direction. It's clearly not Horizon even if it has similarities in places. It's hardly the only game with similarities. Sony didn't take the offer so they developed something with their own software without them how is that a problem.

Was it inspired and modeled in part around it perhaps, but they still didn't copy it unless Sony gave them the code to Horizon or they somehow hijacked it. It's not using the same assets maybe the same font, but unless Sony owns the font itself that's entirely legal and they are hardly the only one using that particular font in all likelihood at the same time. Sony rejected t he offer to co-develop something around what they built already and showcased to them as a pitch so what they need to throw it in the trash!? Like it doesn't work like that.

I don't see how Sony has much of a case with it unless they literally took assets from Horizon and repackaged them as their own. The front really depends a bit on Sony owns the rights that which idk the details on any of that offhand. They may have some legal grounds in that situation like if you were to use Diablo 2 font w/o Blizzard's permission it probably wouldn't go over well.

People and corporations don't own inspiration and creativity period and if we reach that point and allow that to transpire then we've given up a lot of freedom and free will to rich and powerful entities and should fight back against it since it only leads to a very dark and miserable place where they want to legally control and enslave us which is a really warped dystopian future. Society flourishes and thrives when it works together for the greater good not the opposite.

good luck............. ?

Dr. DroIt's more likely that it's a case regarding plagiarism on game design and mechanics, which are sometimes patented by developers. Monolith's "Middle-earth: Shadow of" games were notorious for this (look up Nemesis system patents). There is also the Palworld case with Nintendo, these lawsuits should produce some rather interesting results. I also wonder what will happen with Wuthering Waves, since that game copied practically 98% of Genshin Impact's mechanics. miHoYo seems unbothered thus far, though.

Nintendo suit was very ridiculous, their patent hinged on the throw ball to release/catch creature mechanic, that's the most generic thing possible. Dragon ball had a similar capsule - the DynoCaps - long before pokemon, if Nintendo wasn't so litigious and didn't have such deep pockets the case would fall apart quickly instead of Palword having folded.

TheinsanegamerNThey do look similar. They are not the same assets though. Sony doesnt have the copyright to "old forest" or "building with vines".

JoeTheDestroyerThey don't look remotely close to me. Yes, they both have a "cyber"-ish vibe to them, but that's it (understandable, given the context). Horizon's letters are rounded while Tencent's are blocky. Horizon's are mixed-cased, Tencent's are small caps.

It's not about the number of differences, like @GodisanAtheist said above, they are similar enough that average joe might confuse one for the other. If tencent ripped off Horizon to do, I don't know, keychains or office supplies or whatever else it would be fine, it's a completely different market segment that you can't confuse unless you're missing half your brain. This are competing in the same space, sure one is free to play and the other isn't, that's not different enough, to the layman they're both digital games with similar robotic dynossaurs and pre-historic weapons. I think sony has a pretty strong case, more so with the information Tencent wanted to collaborate on a game.

You basically also describe Ark very closely. I'm sure it's not the only example case as well with a similar theme of tropes. It's robots meets prehistoric. Oh well, but it's dystopian and yeah anything prehistoric has that vibe and anything prehistoric meets scifi is probably going to get that vibe as well if there is conflict involved. There is no doubt it's heavily influenced, but labeling it a copy is a bit of a stretch. This is just a battle of who can hire the better lawyers to argue their case in a courtroom.

Clarkson did a good take on this during one of the top gear episodes:


Basically, Sony can win this so a "world" release is not allowed but I doubt china cares so they will sitll be able to play that and that is a plenty large market for Tenscent to go through with it.

Some English-speaking gamers seem to be much more accepting of copycat products than before? That's a bit surprising.....
P.S. I'm a Chinese gamer, and I hate copycat products and Tencent.

shandriveSome English-speaking gamers seem to be much more accepting of copycat products than before? That's a bit surprising.....
P.S. I'm a Chinese gamer, and I hate copycat products and Tencent.

- I think a lot of people have come to the conclusion that more of something they like is a good thing, and if copyright law and publisher's who sit on good ideas and do nothing with it are in the way then to hell with them.