Sony Sues eBay Seller for $2 Million: Counterfeit PS5 Accessories Scandal Unveiled!

Sony has initiated a legal battle against an eBay seller accused of distributing fake PS5 accessories, demanding compensation of up to $2 million for each unauthorized use of the PlayStation trademarks.

Legal documents submitted on October 24, which were reviewed by The Game Post, reveal that Sony is pursuing a lawsuit against the eBay user “zaocuand-002” for purported trademark infringement and counterfeit activities, with the case being filed in Illinois.

According to Sony, the accused operates an “interactive” online storefront that targets American consumers, selling non-genuine products featuring Sony’s trademarks. One item mentioned in the lawsuit is a $90 PS5 carrying case. Currently, the “zaocuand-002” eBay store lists no available gaming accessories and indicates that it is “sold out,” though the seller’s profile shows approximately 9,000 sales and has 555 followers.

Included in the lawsuit is a screenshot from a previous auction where the carrying case was sold.

Sony’s attorneys state, “Defendant has established an e-commerce store under at least this Seller Alias, which advertises, offers for sale, and sells Unauthorized Products to unsuspecting buyers.” They further argue that the defendant uses the Seller Alias to hide their true identity and the full extent of their counterfeiting operations.

The claim suggests that the defendant is likely based in the People’s Republic of China or another jurisdiction where trademark laws are not rigorously enforced, or they might redistribute goods from such areas.

Sony is seeking $2 million in damages for each instance of trademark misuse and is also demanding an injunction to stop the seller from using any associated advertising that infringes on the PlayStation trademarks in selling counterfeit goods.

This legal action is not Sony’s first against third-party accessory manufacturers. In 2021, after receiving a cease and desist letter from Sony, Canadian company Dbrand was compelled to discontinue its line of PS5 faceplates, only to launch a new original design three days later. Similarly, Customize My Plates halted all its custom PS5 plate sales and ultimately opted out of the market under pressure from Sony, who later secured patents for the PlayStation 5’s faceplates after threatening legal actions against several firms.

In another lawsuit, Sony is also targeting Tencent for what it describes as a “slavish clone” of its Horizon games, specifically the game Light of Motiram. Sony alleges that Tencent’s game is such a direct copy that it has sparked public outcry for its apparent imitation of many distinctive elements of Horizon Zero Dawn, potentially threatening the original game’s success and future expansions.