Sony has been granted a patent that would allow them to develop casings especially for the PlayStation 5. Several firms unrelated to Sony have commercialized or attempted to commercialize panels since the console’s launch in November 2020. Sony has continually avoided them with lawsuits or threats.
Sony Interactive Entertainment registered the patent, which was discovered by the OpaAttack medium. It is identified in the United States Patent and Trademark Office on November 5, 2020. A week before its next-generation console debuted on sale. The approval didn’t come until November 16th, last Tuesday.
The patent, which is titled “cover for electronic device” and includes diagrams of the PlayStation 5, reveals a “skin cover for PS5 console“. The unclear description does not make it obvious whether it is a skin that may be placed to the existing panel or a replacement for it, as indicated by VGC.
The registration from Sony’s Tokyo offices is valid for 15 years. This means that no other brands may produce similar designs without Sony’s permission during that time. As a result, the document may have an impact on companies that claim to supply this accessory.
Companies selling panels without authorization from Sony
The PlateStation5 brand began a pre-order campaign for PS5 panels in several colors a month before the console’s arrival. Sony forced them to suspend production and alter their company name a few days later. PlateStation5 does believe they have protection against legal actions because the patents are still pending.
The firm renamed itself CustomizeMyPlates and began a crowdfunding drive for the panels in the hopes of “putting pressure on Sony to authorize us to make the cases,” but it failed. In January, they returned to the fray under a new moniker: CPM Shells. The product design is in a somewhat different way.
Last December, Dbrand, a brand with the same goal, launched, selling black cases that went on sale in February and sold out in May. They stopped selling them after Sony ordered them to take them off the market. And threatening them with a fine of up to $150,000 for each panel sold, among other things. They announced a 2.0 version of the panel a few days later, with a new design that removed the “fins” and added vents.
SOURCES: US Patent & Trademark Office, VGC, OP Attack
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