Sony’s initial request for a preliminary injunction against Tencent regarding the disputed game Light of Motiram, which is claimed to be a copy of Horizon, has been postponed to 2026. The hearing was originally set for November and has now been rescheduled for January 15. Tencent invoked the term Mickey Mouse to defend its position, arguing that it did not violate one of Sony’s trademarks related to the Horizon series.

Aloy from Sony’s Horizon series next to a smiling Mickey Mouse.

Sony’s lawsuit, filed in July 2025, asserts that Light of Motiram infringes on both its copyrights and trademarks. A preliminary injunction was sought to curtail Tencent’s use of specific promotional content and to redesign the game’s main character.

Upcoming Hearing Delayed

Tencent and Sony have mutually agreed to extend the hearing’s date due to two primary reasons: Tencent sought further time for its response to the injunction request, and Sony’s lead counsel, Annette Hurst of Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, is not available on the original date as she is tied up with a separate AI copyright case.

Light of Motiram Mechanimals Roster

Trademark Arguments

Moreover, Tencent’s filed response questions if Aloy, the main character from Horizon, qualifies as a valid trademark. They argue that Sony has not successfully defined a unique and protected image of Aloy outside the games, leaning on Disney’s trademark variances with Mickey Mouse as a contrasting example.

Mickey Mouse trademarks cited by Tencent

Tencent contends that character names should be associated with specific versions rather than general representations. This debate will continue as the parties await the judge’s decisions on both the lawsuit and the hearing’s rescheduling.