Sony could face a US ban on PlayStation sales in row over hand-controls

by Julia Pearlman, Brand Republic 29-Mar-05, 15:25

LONDON - Sony, maker of the hugely popular PlayStation2, could be facing a massive slump in profits if it loses an appeal against a ruling that could stop it selling consoles in the US after a row over its vibrating hand-controls.

In September 2004, Immersion Corporation, which specialises in digital technology, sued the electronics giant on the grounds that Sony infringed its sensory technology when it developed the PlayStation and PlayStation2 Dual Shock Controllers.

Yesterday, a court in California ordered the Japanese electronics and media company to suspend sales on PlayStation and PS2 consoles as well as 47 games. At the same time, it has been ordered to pay the small Californian software company £48m in damages.

Sony, which is due to launch its PSP portable PlayStation, has been given permission to sell its PlayStations in the US until the appeal has concluded. Sony denies all charges and announced that it will appeal the case.

Sony has sold more than 70m PlayStation2 machines since it launched in 2000, with PlayStation games accounting for 44% of Sony's operating income last quarter.

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