Playstation 3 banned in Europe due to LG's winging.

[Technologic]

European customs officers have been ordered to seize shipments of Playstation 3s after LG won a preliminary injunction against Sony in an acrimonious patent battle between the two Asian electronics giants.

The ruling by the civil court of justice in the Hague means that all new PS3s have to be confiscated as they are imported into the UK and the rest of Europe for at least 10 days.

If the injunction was extended it could mean consoles disappearing from high street shelves. It is understood that Sony and computer games retailers typically have about two to three weeks' worth of PS3s in stock across the continent.

Tens of thousands of PS3s were seized by customs officers last week in the Netherlands, the Guardian has learnt, in a dispute that centres on Sony's allegedly infringing use of Blu-ray technology belonging to LG.

Sony, which imports around 100,000 of the consoles a week, is frantically trying to get the ban lifted. The Japanese company has the right to appeal to the European patents office.

LG meanwhile, could apply to the same patents office to get the 10-day import ban extended. Alternatively, the Korean company could apply for a court order to get the consoles destroyed but it is highly unlikely the court would grant a request to eliminate the warehoused goods.

LG argues that Sony PS3s infringe a number of its patents relating to playback of Blu-ray Discs. LG called for an investigation into the PS3's Blu-ray use in a filing with the US international trade commission earlier this month, and said it sought a "permanent exclusion order ... excluding entry into the United States" of the games console.

If Sony is found to have infringed LG patents, it could be forced to compensate the South Korean manufacturer for each PS3 it has sold around the world, which could cost hundreds of millions of pounds.

The two technology giants are involved in a complex web of seven separate patent disputes, with Sony also seeking to block shipments of LG smartphones to the US.

Rotterdam and Schiphol are the main import points for PS3s for both the UK and continental Europe. The consoles are being stockpiled in Dutch warehouses until it becomes clear how the case will develop.

A spokesman for Sony Playstation said: "We are currently looking into this matter, and cannot make any comments at this point in time." LG declined to comment, although sources close to the company confirmed the current legal position.

Sony has sold more than 3m PS3s in the UK since its launch in March 2007. The Japanese manufacturer is understood to have a stockpile of around 6,500 PS3s in Germany and 10,000 in the UK.

However, the majority of PS3 sales around Europe are pre-orders, meaning they are already sold before they gather dust at warehouses in the UK and elsewhere. Stockpiles could run out within two to three weeks if the ban is not lifted, the Guardian understands.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology...-legal-dispute

WHAT A JOKE.

Edited by HotelUser (Forum Super Moderator): Thread moved from "Console and Computer Gaming" as I feel it's more suited here.

[Firehorse]

LG just lost a lot of my respect for them as a consumer.

[Recursion]

I don't see why... Sony infringed on LG's patents without permission, they're just protecting their IP.

[Oleh]

if anything Sony is just falling deeper into a pit of doom.

[Zak]

This is crazy..

[GommeInc]

Too little too late for LG, surely? If the PS3 is a success, then it's entirely down to Sony and it's too late to pull the PS3 from shelves when consumers will be effected, and affiliated companies who make games and accessories for the console will be hard hit. Anyone have an easy to access list of these so called patents?

EDIT: http://www.gizmocrave.com/4813-sony-...ight-rages-on/

Urgh, it's one of these annoying patent claims on something so vague again. It's like when Apple were trying to patent multi-touch, even though the multi-touch concept is a form of technological evolution. A stupid case, by the looks of things.

[Richie]

It's not officially banned, If sony win the court case then they can sell ps3's in Europe. If they lose I can safely say, it's the end of playstation.

[GommeInc]

It's not officially banned, If sony win the court case then they can sell ps3's in Europe. If they lose I can safely say, it's the end of playstation.

Unlikely, they'll just be heavily fined like with any other company which rakes in millions or billions a year. They can't really scrap a franchise that is enjoyed by millions of consumers who have no problem with the product, and the PS3 is relied upon by game developers.

[Niall!]

Unlikely, they'll just be heavily fined like with any other company which rakes in millions or billions a year. They can't really scrap a franchise that is enjoyed by millions of consumers who have no problem with the product, and the PS3 is relied upon by game developers.

Uh hate to break it to you but they're losing money slightly with every PS3 sale

If they have to pay royalties to LG, they'll axe the ps3 department. End of discussion.

[Moh]

So.. LG are taking legal action over how Blu-ray (Which was invented by Sony) is played on the PS3?

It's a shame Sony can't just turn around and tell LG to piss off and stop using their technology.