Sony Sues Over PSP Imports

An anonymous reader writes "Although the official European launch isn't until September, Europeans have already been able to buy imported PSPs. Sony has sent out a batch of cease and desist letters, claiming that selling the PSP without permission violates their trademarks. The Register reports on the legal fight between Sony and online retailler ElectricBirdLand." From the article: "The Japanese manufacturer is claiming infringement of Trade Mark. But one reseller at the receiving end of the legal nastygrams, ElectricBirdLand, claims that key technologies, trademarks and software utilised in Sony's new portable gaming platform have not even been registered by Sony in the UK. For example, the PSP trademark has apparently been registered by a small Bristol-based IT and design firm, called Owtanet."

Comments

Why should Sony be able to dictate this?

[SamNmaX]

This is silly. Why should it be illegal to import legally purchased PSPs for resale in another country? When a distributor gets exclusive rights from Sony, that should be limited only to the PSPs received by them. That is, Sony won't sell to other distributers.

However, once they are out of Sony's hands, who are they to say who can buy and sell it? As well, how is it trademark infringement? Sony has already gotten their money. They should have no right to this kind of control.

Beyond stupid

[Jarlsberg]

Parallell importing/grey imports are strictly for the hard core gamers. There is no chance this will hurt Sonys sales target when the PSP is eventually released in Europe. Going after the importers is just stupid, because they are getting the units out to the innovators, and they can often make or break a product.

It's just daft of Sony to wait so long before they release it in Europe. As long as Sony is unable to satisfy the demand, someone else will supply the goods. Sony can cry foul all they want for all the good it will do them.

Re:Hmm...

[sesshomaru]

They aren't money grubbing scumbags, it's a different acronym, see their Website:

PSP® E-Commerce

In fact, this shouldn't affect Sony's trademark at all, since Sony is tradmarking a portable media player, and they have trademarked an ecommerce solution. The trademarks don't overlap.

Re:What's mine is your?

[kannibal_klown]

I do not know what reselling laws are in other countries, but last I checked once I purchased a product, whether it be a pizza, car or Computer I am now OWNER of said product. Therefore I can do whatever the hell I want with it.

Depends. Retailers don't just go onto a webpage and order x-thousand PSP's so they can sell them at various outlets. They usually contact a distributor (perhaps Sony itself) and hash out an agreement to sell PSP's. These agreements are in the form of contracts with stipulations that must be followed.
For example:

• Retail chain A decides it wants to sell PSP's
• Retail chain B contacts Sony and lets them know of their intent.
• Sony agrees, but makes them sign a contract.
  • Contract states the quantity or pricing scale for PSP units.
  • Term 1 says Retailer A cannot sell to certain countries where PSP has not been officially released.
  • MAYBE Term 2 says Retailer cannot sell en-masse to a 3rd party retailer. That 3rd party retailer must contact an official distributor or Sony itself.
• Retail A sells PSP's to 3rd party B in another country
• Sony gets pissy because selling to certain countries is in breach of contract.

I'm not saying this is the case here. But retailers have to jump through hoops where-as consumers just have to shell out the cash.

This is just stupid...

[Man In Black]

Here's an idea Sony: Instead of wasting money on pointless lawsuits that are going to piss off the people who are willing to go the the extra time and expense to get your product, how about putting that money towards speeding up the official European launch? If your product was actually available there, then people wouldn't be forced to do this.