PlayStation 4 PS4

Sony, why?! The early success of the PlayStation 4 can be assigned to the feel-good factor that the Japanese giant built around the format: the gamer-centric marketing, the agreeable policies, the Jack Tretton smackdown – so why the heck is the company jeapordising that by trying to trademark the popular phrase Let's Play?

Y'know, when we first read this story, rather than react negatively, we assumed that it was just trying to secure some kind of new slogan, which it would use purely for marketing purposes. But actually, a look at the refusal reveals that it actually wants control of the term in association with online videos. Why would you do this, Sony?

Thankfully, the platform holder's been refused access, with The McArthur Law Firm's letter of protest rubbing salt in the manufacturer's weeping wounds. The company deserves this, though. And it deserves the backlash that it's facing: you can't say that you're for the players then do something like this.

We're just seething that Sony, in its current world-beating guise, would do something so short-sighted. It really seemed like the company had learned a lot of lessons with the PS4, but it would appear that old habits die hard. Want our advice, SCEA? Abandon this immediately, retreat with your tail between your legs, and start re-building those gamer relationships.

[source tsdr.uspto.gov, via smcarthurlaw.com, eurogamer.net, vg247.com]