Sony’s Playstation 3 consoles seized in Europe.
Earlier this month we brought you the story that LG was attempting to pull Sony PS3’s and TV’s from US shelves, well we can say that as of today this is a little more than an attempt. Custom officials in Europe have been ordered to seize all PS3 consoles being imported into the continent. The order comes after LG won a preliminary injunction against Sony regarding the patent of the Blu-ray player. According to leading UK news authority, The Gaurdian, “Tens of thousands of the consoles were seized by customs officers last week in the Netherlands. Sony, which imports around 100,000 of the consoles a week, is frantically trying to get the ban lifted.” The consoles are currently being held at warehouses, and will be for a minimum of 10 days. Sony is free to appeal, as is LG free to apply to extend the ban or get the consoles destroyed.
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.
Now it’s important that we understand the current weight and potential outcome of this ruling; if electronic giant LG wins this battle, Sony could face the challenge of compensating them for every single PS3 ever sold.
The Game Fanatics has reached out to Sony Computer Entertainment for an official statement and will let you know as soon as we hear something.
[Source] Thanks to @Cueil for the tip.
