Sony are willing to use all of their legal power to prevent UK consumers importing their Playstation 3 console from Japan or the US.

Last week Sony won a legal battle with online Taiwanese retailer Lik-Sang that prevents them from exporting the PSP to Europe and they have now said that they "will utilise the full scope of the law to put a stop to any retailers who choose to do this” with the PS3. "The law is clear, and grey importing PS2, PSP or PS3 into the EU, without the express permission of SCEE is illegal." Sony have warned.

The console goes on sale in Japan and the US next month, but won't hit UK shores until March 2007 and while many importers will be critical of the move Sony have said that they are "trying to protect consumers from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards."

You've been warned!