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No PS3 imports for Europe, says Sony

Sony will "utilise the full scope of the law" to stop retailers who attempt to export PlayStation 3 consoles to Europe.

Sony has stated its intentions to prosecute companies for what it calls "grey importing" of its products, including the PlayStation 3, from other regions to within the European Union.

This comes hot on the heels of Sony's court win against Hong Kong-based online retailer Lik-Sang, the second time the two have clashed, this time over Lik-Sang's selling Japanese PSPs to EU customers. The judge found in favour of Sony and deemed that various intellectual property rights had been violated by Lik-Sang's activities.

Sony also asserted its intentions to prosecute other retailers who sell the PS3--which is launching around three months earlier in Japan and the US--to Europeans desperate to get their hands on it for Christmas.

Sony stated: "The law is clear, grey importing PS2, PSP, or PS3 into the EU, without the express permission of SCE is illegal. Therefore, we will utilise the full scope of the law to put a stop to any retailers who chose to do this."

The company explained the reasoning behind this policy as trying to "protect" European consumers "from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards (due to voltage supply differences etc.), is not (in PS3's case) backwards compatible with either PS1 or PS2 software, will not play European Blu-ray movies or DVDs, and will not be covered by warranty."

When asked if Sony would be pursuing private customers, such as those who advertise PS3s on auction sites such as eBay and offer to ship their own consoles overseas (for a price), a spokesperson said that Sony currently had no comment.

241 Comments

  • Quetzalcoatl_88

    Posted Oct 29, 2006 3:27 pm GMT

    Why does Sony hate the Europeans? What did they ever do to Sony?

    But seriously, that's super weak on their part.

  • nestea_king

    Posted Oct 29, 2006 10:26 am GMT

    "Kane04
    this is for NextGenAdam:

    1º what kinda name is that? you must be talking about PC, cus consoles if it ain't PS3, it ain't nex-gen simple as that.

    2º "I'm going to boycott sony", what you gonna do? go out on the streets with a card saying "Sony is no Good"...? get a life.

    3º (for all who think this is a bad move) what are you gonna do with a console that you can't turn on?(voltage supply)
    and it can't play the movies in your region?

    realy christmas or march is that so much time you're willing to get one from the other side of the ocean? what are you 12?

    i'm getting one, till them, PS2 is great lot of good stuff Bully and others realy make the wait easy."

    LOL and how is theere nothing next-gen but the PS3? Is it because of the ripped off motion sensing of the Wii, or the great graphics? If its the motion sensing, then the Wii is even more next gen because its motion sensing is much better, then the "6-axis". If it's because of the graphics, then according to your logic, the PS2 isn't next-gen, and has NEVER EVEN BEEN next-gen because it had the worst graphics of the 3 consoles. So I'm sure you can't be talking about the graphics, because that would contradict what Sony is trying to do with the PS3. Therefore, what you're trying to say in your own odd language is that the Wii is the only next-gen system...which is also wrong, but it is the most "next-gen" in my opinion out of the 3. Way to go fanboy, you made it clear that you're a Sony fanboy. O yeah, and about another one of your comments, there will be mods to make it play movies from Europe, and there are ways to make it work with the voltage in Europe. Look at how far technology has come, do you HONESTLY think that out of all the technology in the world, there is absolutely no way to make the PS3 work perfectly in Europe?

  • noelveiga

    Posted Oct 29, 2006 7:38 am GMT

    What really bothers me about this is all the lying about their reasons.

    They want to make extra money with the Euro release, prevent information leaks and customer confusion and outrage about the cost, dates and capabilities of the hardware. They want strict control over content and game publishing. They need to prevent additional shortages of Jap units on launch day caused by import dealers buying too many systems for Europe.

    They have lots of reasons to not want imports (all of them, in my opinion, illegitimate, if not illegal). What I won't buy is that they're worried about the impact of finding a japanese plug in your japanese PS3.

    Most of all, what exposes Sony in this is the unsustainable price difference between regions. They are going to sell Euro consoles at almost twice the Jap price, with taxes justifying, at most, a mere 16% increase. This means one thing:

    If you're a european retailer it's cheaper for you to import a japanese system.

    That simple. Sony is overcharging us so much that the price difference includes not only the sales tax, but is also big enough to cover the (huge) import taxes.

    My PSP is a "grey" japanese import. I got it 6 months before the system arrived in Europe. I paid for it 249€, with Lumines packed in. Euro PSP release price tag with no games: 249€

    And it's not only Sony. I have a japanese blue DS lite. Got it at Euro price with Advance Wars. I might get a Euro Wii instead of a japanese one, but I still haven't decided. It'll depend a lot on how hard it is to find games and the confusing region coding policy Nintendo is designing for it, but just as Sony and Nintendo can go to Korea and China to put their consoles together instead of paying Japanese, US or Euro taxes, I'll search and buy the cheapest option available on the planet. It's called globalization. You started it, huge corporations, not us. Now live with it.

  • Animal91X

    Posted Oct 29, 2006 7:19 am GMT

    Why does SONY continue to beat them selves to death !!!

  • scmbg

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 7:58 pm GMT

    this really stinks!

  • _Sam_

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 6:41 pm GMT

    I don't think that they will be able to stop all of this

  • ketsuatama

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 6:01 pm GMT

    Sony must really have a low opinion of their consumers. I think most of us are aware that step-up/step-down transformers exist and that the net makes it easy to import dvd/blu-ray/hd-dvd we want to suit our playback region. This is all about trying to assert monopoly control and its high time the judiciary saw through it; on the other hand, when has the judiciary ever looked after the masses!

  • kavadias1981

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 12:33 pm GMT

    Way to stick your middle finger up at your Fanboys Sony. I bet they loved reading this report.

    Oh and Kane04, I pray I never run into you. What a total freak. I pity the woman who ends up with him, IF one ends up with him hehe.

  • MasterAsh42

    Posted Oct 28, 2006 12:10 pm GMT

    So Sony's trying to protect its brand/product image?. . .I can get behind that.

    However, I'm sure people willing to jump through hoops to import a PS3 in Europe are well aware "that [it] does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards (due to voltage supply differences etc.), is not (in PS3's case) backwards compatible with either PS1 or PS2 software, will not play European Blu-ray movies or DVDs, and will not be covered by warranty."

    I'd like to not believe fanatical importers go into their purchases with the level of knowledge on par with a Wal-Mart shopper. . .

  • WhitePenguin

    Posted Oct 26, 2006 7:19 pm GMT

    doesnt tis seem a lil predijuce against teh europeans?

  • HuxleyHobbes

    Posted Oct 26, 2006 7:03 pm GMT

    Well, if they can stop sales to markets, so can I. I will pursue, to the fullest extent, any company which sells any products or services I provide to black people. I say they can't buy it, and clearly I have the right to do so.

  • Sanguis_Malus

    Posted Oct 26, 2006 8:47 am GMT

    Without being FULLY aware of the issues and Legal reasoning then its impossible to really know what is going on.

    One thing is for sure though, Sony are only ultimately concerned about themselves lets not be convinced otherwise !

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 9:54 am GMT

    i think Kane04 is on pcp or crack or something. putting a '3' on a console does not make it next-gen. it makes it a sequel. yawn. think outside the box. Wii.

  • Kane04

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 8:56 am GMT

    this is for NextGenAdam:

    1º what kinda name is that? you must be talking about PC, cus consoles if it ain't PS3, it ain't nex-gen simple as that.

    2º "I'm going to boycott sony", what you gonna do? go out on the streets with a card saying "Sony is no Good"...? get a life.

    3º (for all who think this is a bad move) what are you gonna do with a console that you can't turn on?(voltage supply)
    and it can't play the movies in your region?

    realy christmas or march is that so much time you're willing to get one from the other side of the ocean? what are you 12?

    i'm getting one, till them, PS2 is great lot of good stuff Bully and others realy make the wait easy.

  • Maquis_UK

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 7:39 am GMT

    and they really mean that. importers need to lok out lest they get sued out of existence. remember kids, European or not, Fony loves you all.

  • NextGenAdam

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 6:09 am GMT

    By doing this sony have lost the majority of their european 'core gamers. I was never going to buy a PS3, but now I'm going to boycott sony -- I just hate them!

  • WNxCozzy

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 5:45 am GMT

    Hey folks, first post here.

    I find it would be very risky having one imported anyway. Besides the fact that it is illegal, are you going to spend that much money on something and then risk it being delivered here in one piece? I know I wouldn't.

  • cjaos

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 3:05 am GMT

    this sucks big times ....sony must leave this choise to the costomers....who suport sony for so many years .......and why cant i buy a ps3 for tha states or japan?lol ! A PLAYSTATION SUPORTER!

  • kpsikill

    Posted Oct 25, 2006 2:22 am GMT

    sony trying to protect European consumers??????

    the words "protect" and "consumer" does not make sense when used together with the word "sony".

    hell, they won't even admit the Disc Read Error defect of the PS2. damn hypocrites

  • users-name

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 8:56 pm GMT

    personally i dont care. there are otehr import sites, and since there are only 400,000 consoles for launch, i dont want europeans importing it and lowering my chances of getting it. and since when did people care what sony does as a company?? does every1 think microsoft is at the top of the pc world because they play nice?? either way they both play hardball. also, all i care about is the console, not if they ran out an importing store that was trying to do something illegal.

  • jdogthebomb09

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 4:40 pm GMT

    WHAT IS EVERYONE TALKING ABOUT?! THERE'S ONLY GOING TO BE ARIUND 500,00 PS3'S FOR THE U.S AND JAPAN. WE DON'T NEED EUROPE TAKING OUR PS3'S. THEY WILL GET THERE'S IN MARCH. GET IT?

  • StanAce

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 4:08 pm GMT

    Don't defend Sony if you don't have a reason to. There's no point. After all, they've shown time and time again that they don't really care about consumer loyalty.

    I'm sure there are Europeans who would rather import a PS3 from Japan on launch, rather than wait till 2007 for their local PS3 launch.

  • shungokustasu

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 3:23 pm GMT

    If Sony said they found a cure for AIDS, you people would still complain.

  • torres_unix

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 2:32 pm GMT

    What I don't understand is, if anyone wants to buy imports, why should they not be able to? What's SONY afraid of, making more money?

  • thefjk

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 2:19 pm GMT

    What if I buy my PS3 from Japan?

  • V4LENT1NE

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 2:18 pm GMT

    Damn, I like Sony, but they have dug their own grave with the PS3.

  • i_like_evil

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 1:48 pm GMT

    That's a mighty big grave you've dug Sony... What's that? You decided to use the full extent of the law to buy an ultra-mechanical digger to speed things up? Well.. I shan't be attending the funeral then.

    Seriously. Sony has pretty much destroyed ALL hope of getting a foothold in the European market. They're too thick to get it through the 20 inch cement in their heads that Europe is an important market too. Well.. if they want to literally kill their business. So be it. A$$holes.

  • sjay2004

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 12:24 pm GMT

    The sad, almost ironic thing about this wait is (not that I intend to buy the console, you never know I might someday), the children out there unaware of the PS3's launch (or rather, un-launch), will beg their mum's and dad's to buy them the consoles as soon as it comes out, and they will likely get one from their crazy parents demented on fulfilling their child's wishes for Christmas etc.

    The irony is, those kids don't even know about Sony's, what can only be described as treachery, and yet they will still get the technology o-so-waited for under their Xmas trees (asuming it comes out before Chrimbo).

    It's a bit unfair. Die hard fans of Sony may not get hold of a console after they've waited so long, and yet the ungrateful kids out there get one after say, waiting a month or so? Then they beg their parents to buy them new games each month until they get bored of each one before becoming bored with the console altogher when some new, tinier version of PSP comes out or something.

    Oh God I'm mumbling on. Oh well. Ignore me.

  • jerrt

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 11:11 am GMT

    so wait, is it now illegal or someone to sell a ps3 on ebay to an individual in the uk? [or at all, not just on ebay.]

  • blackveg

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 11:03 am GMT

    The safety thing is bollocks. Its the same system, works on the same power in! The only thing that needs to change is the adaptor.
    And the price so sony can rip europe off for the same **** technology.

    I was going to buy one but wont now, i also know about 7 others who are doing exactly the same. 7 isn't a lot I know but just think how many other people are pissed off with the constant spew of cock ups that Sony seems to be making. They can't get anything right. Not just the PS3 all of their technology across the board.

  • Harvock

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 10:16 am GMT

    Look there is already very few consoles to sell in the US realease and there's even fewer in Japan. Sony already troubled us taking back what they promissed, and now the gamers outside US and Japan are just gonna have to expect a really boring christmans....

    But, for those who waited more than a year for the launch, what is just 3 months more? At least, the wait in the line is gonna be much less longer.....

  • johnparry1973

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 10:00 am GMT

    I import heavily from Lik-Sang and other such shops soI'm disappointed they have closed.

    But if I'm being honest about this...Sony has not closed them down, Lik-Sang has broken the law and paying the price for doing that. It really is a shame to see them but any company that believes somebody is breaking the law and also harming their business has every right to present their case in court and would not deserve to be running if they didn't!

  • ChiefFreeman

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 9:55 am GMT

    whether you hate Sony or not over this, they have a valid point about the safety standards issues regarding imports and Europe.

    Sony is being very cautious especially after the recent battery recalls.

  • ricsuave

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 9:51 am GMT

    "What makes Sony special? - what a stupid question. Why don't you ask that question 24 hours after the PS3 launch coz it's pretty obvious the thing will sellout regardless of its price and whether or not people import it."


    Why the hell do you people keep hyping that the PS3 will sell out? Of course it will, there's only 500,000 worldwide to sell. If I took a crap into 3 boxes and wrapped them real pretty-like and sold all 3 then that would be a sellout too.

    Open globally with 2-4 million consoles and sell them all the first day , then you can get all wet about them selling out.

  • macross

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 9:39 am GMT

    I was a customer for of Lik-Sang for years and always loved their service.... From when I bought games for my Dreamcast until now with my DS and PS2...

    Who cares about not getting a PS3 at the same time as the US and Japan? That pales compared to the matter at hand. One of the most trusted stores of the international gamer community it's closing doors... It's a sad day for gamers.

    Today Sony lost my respect...

  • king-akt

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 9:24 am GMT

    today Sony has lost so respect from the international gaming community, that even i feel a bit guilty, as i live in the UK, i got my white psp from liksang. this is a very sad and disappointing day, politics has won over gaming for the first time. lets hope it stops here.

  • blackveg

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 9:11 am GMT

    is any news aboit PS3 ever good. I hope Sony and the dictators go down the drain for this. Sony is not the power it used to be

    http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3901&www.reghardware.co.uk

    Lik sang shots shop because of these retards.

    But if you read the story it appears top SCEE staff where using the service. Double standards or what.

    I hate SONY So much

    The last TV i had of theres was ****
    the projector at work i had of theres was ****
    the exploding sony battery in my laptop was ****

    Can sony do anything right??

    EU regulations... Yeah right, nothing to do with how much more you can charge europe for the same **** sony products.

  • Gamepro2421

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 8:23 am GMT

    rules rules rules. November 17-19 is going to be a very VERY exciting/interesting three days...i can't wait

  • lildragn

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 8:20 am GMT

    ishan360 I beg to differ http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3901

  • HXCDEW

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 7:58 am GMT

    What makes Sony special? - what a stupid question. Why don't you ask that question 24 hours after the PS3 launch coz it's pretty obvious the thing will sellout regardless of its price and whether or not people import it.

  • Bathyj

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 7:51 am GMT

    Rainbow 6 DEMO UP ON XBL. WOO HOO. You heard it here first.

  • U1

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 7:38 am GMT

    It's certainly not a good idea to import a really really new console that could blow up at any time with no warranty. So they'd be right to warn against it. But to actively stop people from trying to get their hands on one for Christmas when they've decided to screw over Europe doesn't seem that fair.

  • UMCP

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 7:13 am GMT

    Sony... What makes you so special!?

  • sjay2004

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 7:11 am GMT

    Sod it. Just buy an Xbox360.

  • robboh

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 6:47 am GMT

    Ohhh that's another one to add to the "reasons to boycott the PS3" list.

  • ishan316

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 6:14 am GMT

    Nobody ain't stoppin' nobody from doin' nothin'...!!!

  • Neolucifer999

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 6:11 am GMT

    those guys dont realise that its not even entirely an issue of getting the console as early as americans and japaneses people . Actually i have no confidence at all about the first batches of the console , and i'm expecting a lot of broken consoles and returns .. however my ps2 is slowly dying , i have no intention of buying yet another one , and thought i'd love some next gen graphics , i have plenty ps2 games and rpgs that i intend to replay or even play .

    Those kind of news are jokes , it was never legal , yet never stopped happening .. watch me getting an American one , dear Sony

  • Irve

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 6:08 am GMT

    Boooooo sony !!!! Boooooo !!!! still Nintendo did the same thing .... i'm so glad people are looking out for me protecting me from myself.... i'm obviously not smart enough to do it myself ... thank you Sony ... thank you !!

  • sirgeneralmoore

    Posted Oct 24, 2006 6:07 am GMT

    I am From Europe Great Britain and well i still get my console in march despite the wait, but just don't trust sony anymore i did at first with the PS1 and PS2 ok PSP too, but the PS3 hmmm they take piss out of us. oh well i suspose when the european dream comes to reality we won't need sony anymore i guess.

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