PS2 Tariff Debate

Sony is pushing the United Kingdom to re-classify the Playstation 2 for tax purposes. Sony would like to see the machine classified as a computer, thus avoiding the higher tariffs imposed on products classified as videogames. Customs officials denied an earlier request from Sony to consider the console to be a computer on the grounds that the Playstation 2 was not significantly different from its predecessor. The original Playstation was classified as a videogame. "We may consider appealing to an international organisation, possibly the World Trade Organization, although that is a long way ahead," said a Sony Computer Entertainment spokesperson.