Sony wins PlayStation 3 patent battle forcing customs to release 300,000 impounded console
A ban on importing Sony PlayStation 3 consoles into Europe has been lifted.
Electronic giants Sony and LG were locked in a battle over alleged patents infringements in blu-ray technology.
The legal ruling led to around 300,000 PS3s being impounded in the Netherlands following a court order last month.
Court battle: A ban on importing Sony PlayStation 3 consoles into Europe has been lifted
The ban on imports was lifted after Sony overturned a court injunction won by LG at a civil court in The Hague in late February.
The ban on imports is currently set to last ten days, but could be extended if Sony does not overturn a court injunction won by LG at a civil court in The Hague.
The Japanese company is currently appealed the decision to the European Patent Office.
The row stemmed from an accusation by South Korean company LG that Sony used its blu-ray technology within its console to allow it to playback blu-ray discs.
Had Sony lost the case, it could potentially have had to pay LG a fee for every console it has sold across the globe - costing the company millions.
As it now stands, LG could be facing a large claim for damages.
Row: LG had accused Sony of using its blu-ray playback technology in its PlayStation 3 console
A Sony spokesman said today: 'At a court hearing in the Hague yesterday, Sony's arguments were accepted and the seizure order was lifted.
We understand that there will now be no problem re-starting imports of the PlayStation 3 to Europe.'
In Britain alone, three million PS3s have been sold since its launch in 2007, while the company imports around 100,000 into Europe every week.
Sony today said there are no stocking problems in European shops as a result of the legal battle.
When the court order was enforced ten days ago, there were around three weeks' worth of PlayStation 3s in stock across the continent.
Arguments between firms over patents are nothing new, but are often only played out by companies that can afford to do so.
The row over the PlayStations was one of many ongoing patent disputes between the two companies.
Among them, LG is claiming that four patents were infringed in the technology used in Sony's Bravia TVs.
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