Legal News, Legal Features

Gee gee, baby

After being shut down last June due to a legal loophole, the PlayStation Store will finally reopen its doors for business on the PlayStation 3 in South Korea from 16th May. The service was originally closed due to a new legislation that made it illegal for users under the age of 18 to verify online accounts with their real name or age...

Blood, sweat, and tiny pants

While the majority of THQ’s franchises found new homes yesterday, there’s still been no official word on the future of the WWE license. Early rumours suggested that EA had picked up the lucrative contract, but that’s been countered by an IGN report which claims that Take Two made a last minute bid for the series...

Chunk of change

If you thought (or wished) that you’d heard the last of 2011’s infamous PlayStation Network outage, then think again. A UK government body responsible for investigating the hack has issued the platform holder with a £250,000 ($395k) fine, describing the attack as a “serious breach of the Data Protection Act”. The...

It only does settlements

Remember the hullabaloo surrounding Kevin Butler late last year? It emerged that Sony was suing the character’s actor Jerry Lambert after he appeared in a Bridgestone commercial playing on a Nintendo Wii. At the time, the platform holder claimed that the advertisement caused “confusion in the market and damage to...

Open your cheque book

Ever since creditors complained about THQ's quick sale to equity firm Clearlake Capital, things have gone from bad to worse for the embattled publisher. What initially seemed like a crafty way of protecting the company as on ongoing concern has quickly transformed into a bidding war for the firm’s most valuable assets – and...

Scratches head

Who fancies some serious legal mumbo jumbo before bed? THQ’s attempt at a quick sale to equity firm Clearlake Capital has been blocked following complaints from irked creditors. Earlier this week, the miffed parties noted that the proposed takeover had been purposely designed to minimise disruption, rather than maximise debt...

Justice at last

Last year’s PlayStation Network hack proved a torrid time for Sony’s platform – but it was worsened by the knee-jerk reactions from some corners of the press. Cast your minds back to the hazy days of April 2011, and you’ll recall headlines regarding credit card fraud, identity theft, and more. In reality, while there was no...

Shades of grey

The controversial Bridgestone commercial featuring Kevin Butler actor Jerry Lambert was aired three days after the star’s contract with Sony expired, according to a story on the Hollywood Reporter. However, the performer was bound by an “exclusivity clause” that prevented Lambert from providing his services to competing video...

VP of Legal

Sony has responded to reports claiming that it is suing Bridgestone and advertising agency Wildcat Creek over a commercial starring Jerry Lambert – the actor famous for portraying Kevin Butler in a slew of different PlayStation commercials. In a comment released to VentureBeat, the publisher’s senior director of corporate...

Bizarre twist

Switch off Match of the Day and replace that cup of cocoa for something stronger, because things are really heating up online. A handful of court documents have revealed that Sony is in the process of suing Bridgestone and advertising agency Wildcat Creek – which just so happens to be managed by Jerry Lambert, the actor best known...

Joining an ever-growing list of musicians in palpable discontentment over Activision's Band Hero, Maroon 5 front Adam Levine has chosen to pursue legal action against industry scapegoat Activision

As has been the case with previous detractors of Band Hero (and its basis, Guitar Hero), Levine is incensed over his in-game avatar's ability to perform songs written and otherwise performed by other..

Despite multiple statements of innocence by the unnamed hacking group, Sony has told the US House Of Representatives Subcommittee on Commerce that it has found clues of Anonymous' involvement in the PlayStation Network data breach

In a written letter to congress, SCE president Kazuo Hirai revealed that the platform holder had fallen subject to a "very carefully planned, very professional,..

21-year old Canadian, Natasha Maksimovic, is currently enjoying her moment in the spotlight

She has filed a $1 billion (Canadian) lawsuit against Sony for the recent PlayStation Network data breach. That's about $1.04 billion USD [assuming we can use a currency converter correctly - Ed]. The suit was announced earlier this week by a Toronto law firm, with Sony Canada, Sony America and "other..

The little patent disagreement between Sony and LG has been lifted, freeing some 300,000 PlayStation 3s that had previously been seized in Holland

You may remember LG was granted a preliminary injunction against Sony over an infringement on Blu-ray technology, but reports coming out of InsideGamer state that has now been lifted. Latest reports suggested that 300,000 PlayStation 3 consoles had been..

The Guardian's reporting that South Korean electronics manufacturer LG has won an injunction against the PlayStation 3, banning the system from entering European countries for 10 days

A ruling by the civil court of justice in the Hague has called for all PS3s to be confiscated as they are imported into the UK and the rest of Europe. The injunction could be extended if LG wins the case..

Korean company LG are not very happy with Sony

In fact, that's an understatement. They're pissed. Really pissed. So much so, they want Sony's PlayStation 3 and Bravia TVs banned in the US. Why? Something to do with Blu-ray patent infringements. According to Eurogamer, LG claims that Sony is infringing four of its patents that relates to "certain electronic devices having a Blu-Ray Disc player..

Remember Erik Estavillo? Dude, acted like a knob on Resistance: Fall Of Man and decided to sue Sony when they banned him

He lost his lawsuit, but now he wants to appeal. GamePolitics reports:Estavillo also filed (on October 14th) a civil lawsuit against SCEA in Superior Court of California, County of Santa Clara seeking $180,000. Estavillo tells GP he is representing himself in these cases and, in..

When our consoles break we get really frustrated

We agree, it's pretty annoying. But c'mon — do any of us consider starting a class action law suit against the console manufacturers? Hell no. Still, John Kennedy is no average person — for he wants sue Sony for a breach of implied warranty and an act of negligence. His beef? Firmware 3.0. He states that "thousands" of PS3 owners..

Remember Erik - the PSN user who'd acted like a jerk on PSN and then tried to sue Sony when he got banned? Dudes legal proceedings didn't hold much water

Erik Estavillo tried to sue Sony on the basis that following his ban he was being denied services he had paid for. He also came up with some sob story regarding agrophobia. Regardless, the case all got tossed out by Judge Ronald M. Whyte. He ruled..