Seized PS3s released in Europe

Last month, Korean electronics company LG won a court order that had authorities seize all PlayStation 3s that were being imported into Europe. The move led to thousands of PS3s being confiscated by custom officials in the Netherlands, where Sony imports approximately 100,000 units of the console every week.

Today, though, a Dutch court reversed the order, according to newspaper De Telegraaf. The court reportedly ruled that more than 300,000 confiscated PS3s be allowed back into the retail channel, and that LG pay €130,000 ($179,400) in court costs. The ruling is not the final word, however, with patent blog Foss Patents saying that a full ruling on the dispute is still in the works.

The confiscation--and release--were the latest moves in a lawsuit in which LG accuses Sony of violating four of its patents with the PlayStation 3. Specifically, these patents focus on how the console's Blu-ray tech works with multiple data streams, as well as data reproduction that's stored on read-only devices. Sony is also accused of violating other patents with signal receiving and processing in its Bravia HDTVs. In Europe, LG is seeking $150-$180 million it claims is lost revenue from Sony's Blu-ray patent infringement.

In the US, LG has filed a similar motion with the US International Trade Commission to block PS3 imports. That complaint was in response to a similar one filed by Sony in which the company accuses LG of violating several of its patents relating to Blu-ray players and mobile phones.