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Sony to 'block PS3 Euro imports'
Sony has said it will use the "full scope of the law" to block the importing of PlayStation 3s (PS3) into Europe before its official release.

The much-anticipated games console goes on sale in the US and Japan next month but is not out in Europe until 2007.

Last week a British judge ruled that Taiwanese import/export firm Lik-Sang could not sell the Japanese version of Sony's handheld PSP in Europe.

The case sets a precedent for would-be importers of PlayStation 3 consoles.

A spokesman for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) told the BBC: "The law is clear, and grey importing PS2, PSP or PS3 into the EU, without the express permission of SCEE is illegal.

"Therefore, we will utilise the full scope of the law to put a stop to any retailers who chose to do this."

Critics of Sony's approach feel that the electronics giant is preventing gamers in Europe from getting their hands on PlayStation 3s early, even if they have to pay a hefty premium.

The spokesman said: "Ultimately, we're trying to protect consumers from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards."

He pointed out that the Japanese or American PS3 models would not play older European-sold software for the first two PlayStations, would not play EU Blu-ray movies or DVDs, and would not be covered by a warranty.

The decision to delay the release of the PS3 in Europe - due to stock shortages of vital components for the machine's Blu-ray player - came as a blow to players in the world's second-biggest games market.

The machine will be released in Europe in March, while it goes on sale on November 17 in the US and November 11 in Japan.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/t ... 076354.stm

Published: 2006/10/23 09:07:55 GMT

© BBC MMVI

Nephtys wrote:...customer safety standards? A PS2 has customer safety standards!?

I'd be more impressed if the thing for however much I love it, didn't break and need replacement every 6 months. Now this is the excuse for not selling to Europe huh? Have fun with the shallow grave, Sony!

The spokesman said: "Ultimately, we're trying to protect consumers from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards."

He pointed out that the Japanese or American PS3 models would not play older European-sold software for the first two PlayStations, would not play EU Blu-ray movies or DVDs, and would not be covered by a warranty.

Edward Yee wrote:I'd hypothesize that Sony was actually trying to "reverse-psychology"-ize people into buying more PS2's by making the PS3 so bad in comparison, but then Occam's razor (if I got it right) tells me that that's the most convo-stupid-luted way to go about it...

The spokesman said: "Ultimately, we're trying to protect consumers from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards."

He pointed out that the Japanese or American PS3 models would not play older European-sold software for the first two PlayStations, would not play EU Blu-ray movies or DVDs, and would not be covered by a warranty.

I would also point out that if the Japanese or American PS3s are backward compatible with American or Japanese-sold PS1/PS2 software (or whether it's truly region free and makes this question irrelevant), that in itself should legitimize a European gamer's (hypothetical) desire to play Japanese and American games with no piracy involved in either hardware or software.

Come to think of it, whatever happened to the promised region-free; for games but not for Blu-ray/DVD movies?

Balrog wrote:I guess Sony's taken the Trek B&B "We don't care, the fanboys will buy it anyways" approach. Can they really shoot themselves in the foot any more?

From the sounds of it, it's only "region-free" if you live in Japan or the US. If you live anywhere else you're boned.

Nephtys wrote:

I don't get how a company can legally block someone from selling a physical product that they legally own to someone in a different part of the world. That strikes me as utterly outrageous.

General Zod wrote:So, it's finally official. Sony actually is trying to become the single most hated gaming company for the decade. They must have been butthurt over everyone lining up for the Wii booth and not enough people lining up for their PS3.

General Zod wrote:

Edward Yee wrote:I'd hypothesize that Sony was actually trying to "reverse-psychology"-ize people into buying more PS2's by making the PS3 so bad in comparison, but then Occam's razor (if I got it right) tells me that that's the most convo-stupid-luted way to go about it...

The spokesman said: "Ultimately, we're trying to protect consumers from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards."

He pointed out that the Japanese or American PS3 models would not play older European-sold software for the first two PlayStations, would not play EU Blu-ray movies or DVDs, and would not be covered by a warranty.

I would also point out that if the Japanese or American PS3s are backward compatible with American or Japanese-sold PS1/PS2 software (or whether it's truly region free and makes this question irrelevant), that in itself should legitimize a European gamer's (hypothetical) desire to play Japanese and American games with no piracy involved in either hardware or software.

Come to think of it, whatever happened to the promised region-free; for games but not for Blu-ray/DVD movies?

From the sounds of it, it's only "region-free" if you live in Japan or the US. If you live anywhere else you're boned.

And the EU has given MS a good bollocking over their work practices. I hope they open a whole new can-o-whupass on Sony.

wautd wrote:So Sony is using the same strategy as when Cartman had his own themepark?

Lost Soal wrote:
Note the bolded part. Its said the older games which are already region coded, while for the new releases it specifies ONLY the movies and DVD's as being region encoded, not the games. New games probably still are region free.