LUXEMBOURG (AP) – Sony has suffered a defeat in Europe in a lawsuit over cheat software for games for the PlayStation. The Japanese electronics manufacturer believes that this type of software infringes copyright. But the European Court of Justice ruled on Thursday that this is not the case.
Sony had filed a case in Germany against a company that makes software and a device that gives PlayStation users access to certain options that help them in a game. These products change the game’s software in this way, while only Sony has the right to do that, the Japanese company reasoned. Sony therefore wanted the cheat products to no longer be sold and demanded compensation.
The German court had asked the EU court to consider the guidelines for the legal protection of computer programs. The court, the highest court in the EU, now rules that the products do not fall under those guidelines. The software only temporarily changes data in the working memory of the popular game console. The company behind the cheat software is therefore allowed to sell its products.