Sony has requested a federal court to prevent Tencent from employing several aspects of Light of Motiram, a game it claims infringes the copyright of its Horizon series. The company aims for its request for an injunction against the suspected Horizon imitation to be addressed before the end of 2025.

Social media users have been accusing Light of Motiram of imitating Horizon since the game’s announcement in November 2024. Sony apparently concurs with this viewpoint, as it has taken legal action against Tencent for both trademark and copyright violations, filing the complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California in late July 2025. In response, Tencent submitted a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that Light of Motiram simply follows “time-honored tropes,” akin to those seen in Horizon.

Sony Requests Preliminary Injunction Against Light of Motiram

The Japanese gaming powerhouse replied to Tencent’s motion with a preliminary injunction request on October 15, asking Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley to compel Tencent to alter the protagonist of Light of Motiram, described as a fiery-haired tribal huntress, which Sony claims is reminiscent of Horizon’s character Alloy. The injunction is also targeting a specific trailer melody that is alleged to be too similar to two tracks from the Horizon Zero Dawn soundtrack.

Additionally, Sony’s filing seeks to prevent Tencent from using particular story and visual elements in Light of Motiram. Sony asserts that the combination of animal-like machines, vibrant “post-post-apocalyptic” landscapes, and tribes clearly indicates that the game is a knockoff. “SIE invested years and a [redacted 9-figure sum] to express each element uniquely and creatively; instead of doing the same, Tencent copied,” states the motion from October 15. The foundation of this argument was previously established in Sony’s original complaint against Light of Motiram.

Sony Wants Preliminary Injunction Hearing in November 2025

Sony has requested an injunction hearing to be scheduled for November 20. Judge Corley has the discretion to approve the hearing, delay it, or deny it. Florian Mueller, an IP analyst, suggests that an injunction may not be feasible at this stage, particularly since Light of Motiram is still under development, making it difficult to ascertain the extent of any potential infringements.

Tencent has already made some minor modifications to Light of Motiram’s promotional content following the copyright complaint. This is a typical measure in legal disputes of this nature and does not imply an admission of guilt—it merely serves as a precaution to limit possible damages or facilitate a settlement.