Patent row gets Playstation 3s banned from Europe

The long-running patent dispute between LG and Sony over Blu-Ray technology just got serious - a European court has approved a ten day ban on imports of Playstation 3s into Europe.

A court ruling in the Hague last week means Sony's game console and its Bravia TVs could disappear from the High Street in the next few weeks. European customs are obliged to block any imports of the popular consoles, and Dutch authorities have already seized devices.

Sony holds very little stock in its channel, according to sources, and shops could start struggling to find stock within two to three weeks.

LG can either seek to extend the ban, or Sony could appeal the ruling, the Guardian reports. The Reg has also recently heard the story from our own sources: Sony, LG, HM Revenue & Customs and Dutch patent authorities were all unwilling to comment on Friday.

LG is seeking a similar ban in the US. There are seven patents at stake in the dispute. ®