Sony has been fined millions of euros in France for violating competition laws. Specifically, the case concerns the unfair advantage given to third-party controllers on the PS4 compared to the official DualShock 4 controller.
According to the French competition authority, Autorité de la Concurrence, Sony Interactive Entertainment must pay a fine of €13.5 million because, according to the regulator, it implemented technical measures that adversely affect the functionality of third-party controllers. This was done in the context of combating counterfeiting.
Wie die Competition Policy International/Pymnts According to the Autorité de la Concurrence, these technical measures by Sony effectively give third-party manufacturers no chance against the official product. The allegation is that only the officially licensed DualShock 4 controller functions correctly on the PS4. All others exhibit a number of problems, including frequent connection drops.
The regulatory authority further alleges that Sony deliberately designed the licensing process to be vague and cumbersome, thus leaving third-party manufacturers in the dark. It also criticizes the lack of transparency in Sony's licensing program and claims that the company "applied the criteria at its own discretion, even though access to the program was the only way to prevent connection interruptions for third-party manufacturers."
The competition authority therefore believes that the combination of these practices has significantly damaged the brand image of third-party manufacturers and hindered their market expansion, possibly leading to their isolation.
It is unknown whether Sony will appeal the antitrust authority's decision. However, the ruling could bring market-dominating practices back into sharper focus. Sony, in particular, is repeatedly confronted with such concerns, most recently with allegations regarding its handling of the PlayStation Store.
Yes, I have to defend Sony for once regarding PS4 bugs. Are there still fake DS4s that are indistinguishable from the originals? Even the packaging is counterfeited. As for the licensing program, it's quite clear: Sony wants money for every DualSense/DualShock feature. That's why Nacon and others, for example, don't offer adaptive triggers or Bluetooth audio transmission, etc.
Sony benefits more from third-party licensing programs than vice versa; take a close look at the design of DualSense, it didn't just fall from the sky.
Touchpad LED =razor raiju
Ergonomics = scuf vantage 1&2
Stick module change edge= Astro c40tr.
The DualSense also shows signs of having undergone four revisions. Whether this was due to cost constraints or to prevent copying or modification, I don't know. But as always, the extreme rate is the deciding factor; I'd even say it's become easier.
Okay, and at the same time the cartels give their OK when Microsoft buys its way to a monopoly?