Dutch officials seize more PS3s

Sony’s ongoing patent battle with electronics manufacturer LG has taken a turn for the worse with news that Dutch customs officers have seized "tens of thousands" of additional PS3 consoles from ports in the Netherlands.

The move leaves an increasingly high number of hardware units in limbo and seriously threatens the supply of consoles to the UK.

Sony is scheduled to have its appeal against the decision heard in The Hague this afternoon, the result will be either an extension of the injunction, demand of payment or a lifting of all restrictions.

LG is arguing that Sony must purchase additional licenses from it if it wishes to continue selling the console.

The dispute is said to stem from a disagreement the pair had about Blu-ray licenses. LG favoured a mutual agreement but Sony pushed for a broader agreement that would have lead to back-dated payments related to older LG mobile phones.

Sony eventually sought a ban on the devices. Nothing has yet come of this, but LG’s reaction against PS3 has been interpreted as an aggressive retaliation.