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More PSP european launch drama..

http://gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=9290

Sony slammed by UK retailer over PSP trademark issues

Speaking exclusively to GamesIndustry.biz, Dan Morelle - managing director of online store ElectricBirdLand - has claimed the European launch of PSP could be delayed as Sony has yet to register vital trademarks.

Morelle also slammed Sony’s attempts to prevent UK retailers importing and selling US and Japanese PSPs, telling GI.biz: "Sony has a dominant position within the gaming industry, but the threat of legal action makes them no more than a playground bully.

"Their approach to business is to throw money and brute force at a problem until it is resolved. The industry is sick of Sony using its financial backing to control the market," he added.

However, ElectricBirdLand argues that Sony has so far failed to register key PSP technologies, trademarks and software, and that the Cease and Desist orders can only refer to the 'PlayStation' trademark as a result.

"Sony's failure to secure these trademarks could potentially lead to further delays to the European launch of the PSP, or could result in the costly re-branding of a product which has already proved to be a hit in the US and Japan," EBL said.

Morelle points out that the 'PSP' initials are currently used by UK firm Owtanet Ltd for their Owtanet PSP software, standing for Publishing, Shopping and Profiles.

"Thinking that it is okay to keep customers waiting six months for a product while attempting to stop anyone else from selling it shows Sony to be nothing more than a spoilt child."

Morelle went on to reject suggestions that his comments were simply designed to attack Sony, stating: "I am waiting for Sony to tell me exactly how we are damaging the Sony brand.

"The way I see it is that we are assisting it. That’s why it’s so crazy that Sony is picking on the smaller businesses.

"I’m not a suitcase-wielding spiv and we’re not knocking these products up in our garden shed. We make it very clear to our customers that these products are from Japan. We’re simply giving them what they want, when they want it," he continued.

"The fact that we can get hold of stock that is, according to Sony, is not available breaks the invisible thread of Sony Computer Entertainment’s new clothes that they base this whole delay on," he continued.

 

[G4life98]

So you are telling me sony waited this long to secure the rights to the initials "psp" worldwide...

:lol

man they are just trying to give the win to the DS.

 

[Drek]

This quote also from Morelle:
"Wha wha wha! Sony won't let me have my way, wha wha wha!"

Seriously, when Sony even says the PSP isn't region free for movies, and Sony apparently has left it up to 3rd parties to decide if their games will be region free, can you blame them for not wanting import units prominantly sold? All it'll do is make for bad blood with consumers when X big name game comes out and isn't region free.

That, and no region free movies will hurt their own desire to see UMD catch on well if everyone starts buying imports, so obviously thats something they're looking to avoid.

So you are telling me sony waited this long to secure the rights to the initials "psp" worldwide...

Well, if what Morelle says is correct Sony wouldn't have mad much choice over the acronym "PSP", since someone else has trademarked it and Sony would need to reach an agreement with them. However, I don't see Morelle as anything close to a valid, objective source on the business dealings of Sony. After all, he clearly has an axe to grind. That, and I doubt SCEE is letting him in on where they stand with getting a PSP trademark deal done with this UK software house.

Its one retailer pissed that Sony isn't letting him line his pockets, so he's throwing a fit and spewing as much negative BS as possible.

 

[Koshiro]

I'm currently trying to work out whether Sony Europe is most like Microsoft or Sega...

Microsoft-esque = Bullying with money and market dominance.

Sega-esque = Not bothering to register things as blatently obvious as 'PSP'.

 

[Jared Goodwin]

Sony: We can't sell the PSP in Europe, there aren't enough units!

Retailers: What about these units we have, right here, in our hands, that clearly haven't been sold out in Japan, the US, or...oh yeah, Korea, which for some reason got a launch before Europe did?

Sony: Stop selling those! They obviously...uh...don't exist, yeah, that's it!


I can see how pointing out a weak lie on Sony's part merely by existing might be damaging to the brand. Too bad for Sony that it's their problem, not the retailers'.

 

[Danj]

It's Sony Europe pissed that import shops aren't letting them line their pockets, so they're throwing a fit and spewing as much negative BS as possible.

Fixed

Seriously though, there are two errors in their statement that "parallel importing [of the PSP] is unlawful" - one, it's not available here, so it's not "parallel", and two, importing of a legitimately manufactured device which doesn't of itself break any laws or fail to meet electrical standards is not illegal.

 

[Kiriku]

Sony: We can't sell the PSP in Europe, there aren't enough units!

Retailers: What about these units we have, right here, in our hands, that clearly haven't been sold out in Japan, the US, or...oh yeah, Korea, which for some reason got a launch before Europe did?

Sony: Stop selling those! They obviously...uh...don't exist, yeah, that's it!


I can see how pointing out a weak lie on Sony's part merely by existing might be damaging to the brand. Too bad for Sony that it's their problem, not the retailers'.

Well, there's a slight difference between a few European online stores finding enough PSPs to sell to a small number of hardcore games who prefer to import, and Sony finding enough PSPs for thousands of game shops all over Europe to provide enough hardware for the big mainstream crowd after tempting them with PSP ads and whatnot. Not that I'm trying to justify a September release, but still...

 

[sol5377]

This reminds me of the time when Nintendo was in power and they pissed off retailers too... we all know how that turned out

/end useless comparisons

 

[Jared Goodwin]

Well, there's a slight difference between a few European online stores finding enough PSPs to sell to a small number of hardcore games who prefer to import, and Sony finding enough PSPs for thousands of game shops all over Europe to provide enough hardware for the big mainstream crowd after tempting them with PSP ads and whatnot. Not that I'm trying to justify a September release, but still...

Hyperbole, granted.

It does hurt them, however, to be having another visible reminder that they haven't gotten their European release shit together.

 

[radioheadrule83]

Sony know that importing a new PSP from abroad is cheaper than it will be buying a native package in Europe on September 1.

The retailers just want to do the right thing by themselves and by their own customers. And doing this kind of thing will keep the forthcoming PSP release in the public conscious for the next four months.

By launching in September, they'll be able to retain the higher pricepoint (which I daresay won't be the case in the US or Japan) right through Christmas. They have product available, a universal product at that, it's no longer selling out in rediculous quantities in previous launch territories... but they want to throw out a high priced system in September with 40 games and maximise numbers for their October PR. It's not like bullying partners trying to pimp their brand is going to achieve anything. Have Sony learned nothing from Nintendo? If they want a casual/adult market for PSP, those aren't the kind of people who'll go through the trouble of importing or buying an unsupported system (in the customer service / warranty sense) anyway.

The lack of trademark registration thing is worrying - although I doubt that UK company/service sharing the name will complain anyway. It'd be horrible yet amusing if the UK system saw a delay on top of other European countries because of it.

 

[jarrod]

Sony's the new Nintendo. In every way it seems.