Sony Says Importing PS3s Is Illegal
October 21st, 2006 Posted in Business
For the ones disappointed by the PS3 delays, or, the Europeans, there was always the possibility of importing the console from Japan, since the PlayStation 3 is region-free. This time though, Sony is warning retailers that importing PS3 (from Japan to Europe) is illegal.
Europeans can expect legal action from Sony, should they “grey import” a console from Japan. Sony reasons this by saying the Japanese PS3 versions won’t meet the strict EU safety standards, and there will be no warranty.
This doesn’t stop Hong Kong based retailer Lik-Sang, who are taking Sony to court over the issue. They claim it is within the Hong Kong trade laws to export/sell PS3s from Hong Kong to Europe.
Read (GamesIndustry)
October 21st, 2006 at 2:14 pm
Looks like Sony is trying to make sure that no Europeans get a PS/3 until March … which kinda sucks but oh well. What are you gonna do though … sue them? Nah that won’t work since they are using the Safety thing as a shield. Still I can’t imagine that no one in Europe will find a way to have one.
October 21st, 2006 at 8:08 pm
They’ll find a way. I think it is wrong what they are doing and Lik-Sang has the right to take them to court.
October 21st, 2006 at 8:13 pm
I’m kinda puzzled what right they have to prevent that. There is something like freedom of transportation right?? It’s not like it’s enriched uranium or something.
October 22nd, 2006 at 3:47 am
I’m glad there’s one thing we can all agree on.
Also:
“Sony reasons this by saying the Japanese PS3 versions won’t meet the strict EU safety standards, and there will be no warranty.”
I don’t know about you, but I doubt that a console is very dangerous cargo.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:27 am
They are within their rights legally speaking. Each country has different tax rules so for example importing something from the US you should have to pay UK VAT on it, which you obviously avoid doing this. Therefore it is strictly speaking illegal.
This isn’t why Sony is doing it though, their realistic worry is that the hardcore crowd will buy machines at Christmas from Japan because they are cheaper and available and then come their European launch the sales will be greatly reduced. Whatever Doom argues the FACT ™ of the matter is that only hardcore gamers will rush out at launch and pay the high price for PS3, the average consumer will wait until the price drops and availability is higher.
With the high price of PS3 there is a realistic margin for companies like Lik-Sang to sell a high number of machines. The price of the newly cut PS3 in Japan will be around £225 and even with import duty will be quite a bit cheaper than the EU version.
The other consideration is although Sony is a global company each market will be run as a separate business and the European arm doesn’t want to under perform on sales due to grey imports. Why do you think most consoles are region locked? They don’t build this in just for something to do.
I think realistically we won’t see Sony suing 15 year old kids for buying a PS3 off the internet. But we will probably see shops like Lik-Sang, Play Asia, Computer Exchange etc threatened with legal action over this. Then again who knows perhaps they will make an example of some individuals like the record companies have with MP3s.
November 1st, 2006 at 3:36 am
Region free get illegal? hmmmm
December 28th, 2006 at 12:16 pm
PS3’s have been imported into Australia