Sony has embarked on a legal battle against an eBay seller, accusing them of selling fake PS5 accessories. The tech giant is seeking up to $2 million in damages for each alleged misuse of the PlayStation Trademarks.
Legal documents filed on October 24, as highlighted by multiple reports, reveal that Sony is targeting the eBay account “zaocuand-002” for alleged trademark infringement and counterfeiting, with the case being handled in Illinois.
Sony argues that the seller actively engages with U.S. consumers through an “interactive” online store, unlawfully using Sony’s trademarks to market “unauthorized products.” Among these items is a $90 PS5 carrying case. Although the eBay store of “zaocuand-002” currently shows “sold out” status for gaming accessories, the account has a track record of selling approximately 9,000 items and has 555 followers.
“Defendant created an e-commerce store operating under at least the Seller Alias that is advertising, offering for sale, and selling Unauthorized Products to unknowing consumers,” Sony’s lawyers detailed. The company claims the defendant may be operating from the People’s Republic of China or other regions with lenient trademark regulations, potentially redistributing products from similar sources.
A Fight Against Counterfeiting
Sony is not only pursuing monetary damages but is also seeking an injunction to stop the seller from using any advertisements linked to counterfeit goods bearing the PlayStation Trademarks. This marks another instance of Sony cracking down on third-party sellers of unauthorized PlayStation accessories.
History of Legal Actions
This isn’t the first time Sony has confronted third-party accessory sellers. Following a 2021 cease and desist letter, Canadian company Dbrand had to withdraw its PS5 faceplates from sale. However, just days later, Dbrand introduced its own unique faceplate designs.
Similarly, in 2021, Customize My Plates canceled its PS5 plate sales after facing pressure from Sony. Eventually, the PlayStation 5 faceplates were patented by Sony, which also threatened legal actions against other producers of custom plates.
Ongoing Legal Battles
Beyond tackling counterfeit accessories, Sony is engaged in a legal dispute with Tencent over the game Light of Motiram, which Sony alleges is a blatant imitation of its Horizon series. The corporation claims the clone endangers the Horizon franchise’s growth and success.