Sony Lose Out - PS2 Not a Personal Computer?

Thanks to the UK Guardian for their article discussing Sony's failed attempt to get the PlayStation 2 classified as a personal computer in Europe, for customs reasons. The piece explains: "Sony was not splitting hairs for the sake of hair-splitting; its motives were purely mercenary. The import tariff for computers coming into the European Union is much lower than that for games consoles and a ruling that the PlayStation 2 was a computer could have forced customs authorities to pay back millions in duties." Although the battle is becoming less important, as from January 1st, 2004 "...computers and games consoles will be allowed into the EU at zero tariff", the legal distinction is still interesting - the European court in Luxembourg ruled "...the definition of a computer could not be stretched" because "It is quite clear that [the PS2] is intended mainly to be used to run video games."

Comments

Re:now i wonder what the judge really said

[Dot.Com.CEO]

It was a mistake from a spokesperson, apparently. See here.

Re:The Real Reason for Linux on the PS2

[n0wak]

If you actually read the post, you'd have seen:
Although the battle is becoming less important, as from January 1st, 2004 "...computers and games consoles will be allowed into the EU at zero tariff"

So it doesn't matter if the case is "winnable", as that whole distinction is now becoming irrelevent. The only case possible is to make the ruling retroactive, so you get a refund so to speak... but that seems unnecessary.