PlayStation 3 European import ban lifted


11 Mar 2011

A Dutch court has lifted the temporary European ban on PlayStation 3 shipments, amidst a legal battle between Sony and LG over patents.

The Hague Court in the Netherlands lifted the 10-day injunction, with LG facing a large fine for damages.

The injunction saw the confiscation of hundreds of thousands of PlayStation 3 consoles. Sony has said shipments will now resume without any further issue.

The ban was implemented after LG won a preliminary injunction against Sony regarding its Blu-ray patents. Even though the injunction against the European distribution of PlayStation 3 consoles has been lifted, the legal dispute has not been fully resolved.

LG claims Sony infringed its own Blu-ray patents and if Sony is found guilty, it could have to pay LG hundreds of millions of euro in compensation.