The Autorité de la concurrence, France's competition authority, has fined Sony €13.5 million for abusing its dominant position in the market for PlayStation 4 (PS4) video game controllers. This decision comes after a referral from Subsonic, a French manufacturer of video game controllers, which highlighted Sony's anti-competitive practices over a period exceeding four years.

The authority identified two main practices that constituted the abuse. Firstly, while Sony aimed to combat counterfeiting, the measures implemented were deemed disproportionate as they affected all unlicensed controllers without distinction. This broad approach led to significant harm for third-party manufacturers, damaging their brand image among both consumers and distributors.

Secondly, the combination of these practices not only hindered the growth of these manufacturers in the market but also posed a risk of their potential foreclosure. The fine of €13,527,000 is imposed jointly on three subsidiaries of Sony and its parent company, reflecting the severity of the infringement.