The launch of the next-generation of Sony PlayStation gaming consoles faces delays in India due to trademark issues.
The recently introduced PlayStation 5 will soon be available for pre-order in some regions, but India buyers might have to wait a little longer. However, Sony has not been able to open the pre-order period or even announce the date of the product’s launch in India.
But in a report by India Today, Sony Playstation 5 will be launched globally on November 12, 2020.
As per My Smart Price, a Delhi guy named Hitesh Aswani already owns the named “PS5” in India, causing the delay in launching the device.
PS5 India Trade Mark Currently Not Held by Sony: Here’s What It Could Mean for the PS5 India Launch https://t.co/XBMNoAtrM6 #PS5 #PS5PreOrders #India
— 0xSkeptic | Cringe Connoisseur (@RishiAlwani) October 6, 2020
Trademark details
Hitesh Aswani filed for the name “PS5” on October 29, 2019, almost three months before Sony filed its trademark name. The details of the trademark are visible on the Indian Government’s Public Search of Trade Marks website.
One can access the complete details of the brand by putting “PS5” in the text box next to Wordmark, with 28 as the class value. As of writing, the status of the trademark is “opposed.”
An “opposed” trademark occurs when a third-party believes a similar trademark is published in the Trade Marks Journal or if the brand is alleged to be non-distinctive.
Delay of Sony PlayStation 5 in India
According to credible sources, a trademark controversy is not enough to delay launching a product. The spokesperson for Sony India refused to give any comments on the issue.
As per Mako Reactor, as long as Sony can prove its goodwill and existence before the initial filing by Hitesh Aswani, it shouldn’t be a problem releasing the PS5 in India.
In a similar case that happened with Asus, the company had to launch their smartphones without the “Zenfone” branding due to the same issue.
However, in the case of Asus, the trademark was owned by another company, not an individual, so there are chances that Sony would be able to launch the PS5 with the same name in India.
Release date in India
Sony is set to launch its PlayStation 5 in the US, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, and South Korea on November 12, 2020. The launch date for other regions has been set on November 19, 2020.
However, there has been no intimidation of a launch date in India. Sony has stated that the availability in each region is subject to local import regulations.
The PS5 in India has been tipped at around Rs. 55,000 (750 USD) for the disc-drive version. Rumors find that Sony will not be launching the digital edition in India, citing zero demand from its customer base
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