Sony stop company making custom PlayStation 5 console plates ahead of November 12 launch

Just over a week before gamers get their hands on the hard-to-find PS5 a company has been whacked by Sony and put a stop to its plans.

A company that wanted to help people customise their new PS5 consoles has had to start issuing “thousands” of refunds after Sony put a stop to its plans.

Originally named Plate Station, the newly renamed Customise My Plates aimed to sell custom “fins” for the new console to let gamers put their own personal touch on the console.

The PS5 has two wavy fins on the sides of the console designed to maximise airflow and look cool doing it.

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The PS5 features a wavy new design.

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The ones that come pre-installed on the PS5 console are white in colour, dotted with tiny PlayStation symbols.

But the plates can be removed, for cleaning the console or personal preference.

Plate Station wanted to produce different colours and patterns for the console and had garnered considerable interest from gamers eagerly anticipating the new console’s release next week (though you’ll be hard pressed getting either of next week’s new consoles if you haven’t secured one already).

On the weekend the company said its plans had been scuppered by a complaint from Sony.

As I’m sure some of you will be finding out. Due to patent and intellectual property issues we will be cancelling all orders and processing refunds. We’ll work hard over the weekend to get this done so please bare with us. Once complete you’ll receive an email.

— Customize My Plates (@customizeplates) October 30, 2020

The company has pivoted to making vinyl skins that can be used to customise the console now that it isn’t allowed to make the plates themselves.

A Customise My Plates spokesperson told Video Games Chronicle that the company was “extremely disappointed” but had no other option.

“Before we launched, we did our due diligence and were of the opinion, that because Sony only had pending patents on the faceplates there would be no problem,” Customise My Plates told VGC via email.

“But after only a day of our website being live, Sony’s lawyers asked us to change our name due to trademark infringements. We thought this switch would be enough to keep everyone happy, and honestly were hoping so since we were already underway with our product development.

“But then Sony’s lawyers told us it was their opinion, Sony’s intellectual property extended to the faceplates, and that if we continued to sell and distribute them in any country, we would end up in court.”

The PS5 and the box it comes in.

The company spokesperson added it would seek to be “wiser”about trademark and patent laws in the future.

A Sony Interactive Entertainment spokesperson told news.com.au the company had no comment on the matter.

The plates had been selling for around $56 but refunds are now being issued to “thousands” of people who tried to order one, Customise My Plates said.

Update on plates refunds. If you paid by PayPal you will already have your order cancelled and refund processed. If you paid by card we are processing orders one by one. There are thousands to go through so we please ask for your patience & understanding 🙏

— Customize My Plates (@customizeplates) November 1, 2020