Since the start of the year, Sony’s video game division has stepped up its legal actions in Russia to safeguard its brands, a development noted by the publication Kommersant. A focused effort by Sony Interactive Entertainment, the arm responsible for PlayStation consoles, has led to a string of lawsuits aimed at protecting the PlayStation trademarks from unauthorized use. Specifically, 25 lawsuits have been filed in Russian arbitration courts against individual entrepreneurs since January 2023. In two instances, the courts granted full relief to Sony, in three additional cases they granted partial relief, and the remaining matters are still under review.
By comparison, in all of 2022 Sony Interactive Entertainment filed only a single case with the Krasnodar District Arbitration Court. The surge in 2023 marks a notable shift from the company’s historical posture before the ongoing Ukrainian crisis and reflects a more aggressive stance toward enforcing intellectual property rights in the Russian market.
Industry observers suggest that a tough stand against counterfeiting is important for Sony to preserve its brand reputation and the perceived quality of its products. Yet, despite the uptick in enforcement by Sony, there has not yet been a broad escalation in the activity of foreign copyright holders within Russia, indicating a cautious approach by some global rights holders amid the country’s evolving regulatory and competitive environment.
The broader market context indicates a persistent problem with counterfeit electronics and unauthorized brand use in various retail channels, which underscores why major rights holders emphasize legal recourse and brand policing as a core component of their regional strategies. The trend aligns with growing concerns over consumer trust and the long-term value of official products in an economy undergoing rapid change and heightened international scrutiny.
Historical shifts in enforcement and distribution have also intersected with other tech companies’ strategies in the region. Reports note that previous patterns included sporadic actions by some major brands and periodic interruptions in free distribution or promotional activities, underscoring the competitive and regulatory complexities that multinational tech firms navigate as they operate in Russia and adjacent markets.