Monday 28 February 2011

All PS3s shipped to Europe will be confiscated

Bad news for Sony: The Guardian reports that LG got its wish in a patent lawsuit concerning LG's patented technology which Sony appear to be using in the PS3. Tens of thousands have already been seized in the current 10-day ban which LG can appeal to have extended, and if the worst came to the worst have the PS3 consoles ordered to be destroyed.

LG are also hoping for a similar judgement in the US. These disputes are alongside another six patent battles between the two companies - Sony would like LG smartphones to be banned from the US.

The likely outcome is that Sony will have to pay LG a licensing fee for the patent, which will also be retrospective for all PS3s ever sold. On top of the fact that each PS3 sale loses money for Sony already, they're not going to be too happy.

These ongoing patent battles never seem to accomplish anything - so is the current patent system not the best possible way of dealing with inventor's rights? Discuss.

I leave you with a nice song for reflection. I must declare an interest, as an owner of a gaming laptop and an Xbox 360.

15 comments:

  1. Wow thats bad for Sony. As an owner of both an Xbox and a PS3 though I can say that it's an amazing and beautiful console. I'm surprised to hear they are losing money on it.

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  2. I don't know where I stand on this, since the patented technology wasn't 'invented.' It was commissioned, and then developed by a number of engineers.

    Patent laws probably do need to be looked at, but I don't really know enough about this to give my opinion. What is the technology Sony allegedly 'stole?' Is it an analogue of something else? Or is it something completely new and revolutionary?

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  3. And the rolling joke of the ps3 continues. Poor sony.

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  4. the Playstation was pretty cool, the PS2 was okay, too, but the PS3 just doesn't cut it. Too expensive, too.

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  5. All PS3 will be remote-destroyed.

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  6. Poor guys at sony aren't haven't much luck.

    Harakiri?

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  7. that's a big mistake from sony

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  8. I read about this today...the lawyers must be lapping up the cash

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  9. As an xbox 360 owner...I aint even mad

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