DBrand: Darkplates are back. Checkmate, Lawyers.

DBrand posted: "See, while we appreciate all the armchair legal advice that filtered in over the weekend, the reality of this Darkplates dispute is quite simple:

1. You can’t successfully sue someone over an alleged “design infringement” without a registered design patent.

2. Sony did not have a registered design patent for the PS5’s side panels when we launched Darkplates (or for many, many months following the release).

3. We didn’t think they’d ever get one.

4. They did.

5. Here we are.

So, faced with this registered design patent which, according to Sony, alleges to cover the shape of the PS5’s side panels, we had two options:

1. Spend millions fighting the legitimacy of the design patent claims for many years in court.

2. Start fresh."

[Jin_Sakai]

Here we go again.

“The answer? Probably. The difference this time is that we’ve created an original design for which they have no basis to allege infringement. If they want to try, they’d better be ready to pay our legal fees.“

[Neonridr]

why are they such asshats about it. Just release your revised product and let it be. It's almost like they are asking for trouble. Their attitude alone makes me not want to support them.

[boing1]

This attitude is what makes the headlines these days. I think this is planned behavior.

[annoyedgamer]

Same. Id never support third party anyways. If Sony isn't making it, I don't want it.

[Sonic-and-Crash]

no matter what they say if Sony has nt agreed for a third party accessory collaboration....would still be hit with suing ...

i wonder if they realy have any lawyers with them to explain to them how is the situation with patents and property like that

[darthv72]

Its all about the 'tude but yeah they are just being a bit too arrogant. I like my original darkplates but I do have to say these dont look too bad. Plus you wont need the stand if upright.

[v_eno_m]

free PR

[Zhipp]

It's just good marketing. They know their brazen behavior is gonna get them all sorts of attention.

[jBlakeeper]

I agree with Sony on this. It’s their product that they made and they haven’t even tapped into the market for this because they can’t even get enough consoles out of the door. So when a third party company taps into a market that Sony should have first it’s not a good look.

[Nitrox]

I get the attitude though. How would people respond if Apple, Samsung, or any other phone manufacturer started suing case manufacturers because they wanted to own that market too? It’s just greed. (And I’m saying that as a Playstation 1st gamer even).

Its a cosmetic. How is this any different from adding a skin? Sony needs to back down and just release their own panels and let consumers choose. They still have the edge being able to incorporate their game IPs into their designs.

[Sitdown]

@jBlakeeper
What are you talking about? There is a chip shortage, not a panel shortage... Them not tapping into that market has nothing to do with console shortages. And why would it but be a good look? There is plenty of money to be made.

[BehindTheRows]

We agree on something at last. These guys are large!

[Dee_91]

i find the asshatness hilarious.. also im always on the side of the smaller ... murican companies in cases like this.

[RoseSapphire]

Oh yes, that terrible attitude of a company that was threatened with legal action while legally making and selling a product. Darn them for being upset and snarky !

[porkChop]

The attitude is there because skin manufacturers don't have these issues with any other hardware company. Sony are actively going out of their way to ensure consumers have less options.

While I'd prefer Dbrand move away from the "fuck you" attitude I also can't fault them for acting that way either.

[Orbilator]

Because dbrand are ignorant, self righteous, and they can't help themselves. I hope Sony does sue them again, maybe this time they can take the company down completely, look at the crap they spouted when people couldn't get there stickers on properly. Over priced and over hyped. Better deals out there. They will never get a penny off me ever.

[Relientk77]

They are persistent. I give them that.

[anubusgold]

Sony is a joke this is like changing tires on a car. Sony shouldnt been able to sue them in the first place for this. All the after market kits you can buy for cars you dont see car makers crying like a little baby like sony.

[Teflon02]

Well seeing how depending on the design and such, you can possibly change the console performance, it's not wise for Sony to let it be. Say there's something about it raising the Temps. Then Sony is now stuck in lawsuits and such because consoles are breaking down. I'm not saying that's the scenario. But that's why you're suppose to partner with a console creator for things like these.

[northpaws]

@anubusgold

Except in this case, instead of just releasing the tires, they have to be like "sue me, asshole".

[chadwarden]

@anubusgold No it's not like changing tires lmao. The side plates are not wear and tear items.

[anubusgold]

@chadwarden Its very much like after market car parts .

[Magog]

The shape is also part of the patent not just the design so I expect them to get sued and lose.

[Jin_Sakai]

Also, messing with the airflow doesn’t seem like a good idea.

I think Sony will release an all black PS5 in the future anyhow. They’ve already done an all black DualSense and Headset.

[VenomCarnage89]

Sony needs to quit wasting their time and just release these simple slabs of plastic already then. If they were smart about it there would already be like 50 variations for sale, and people would be eating it up

[jBlakeeper]

It’s pretty much guaranteed that they will at some point. Probably around 2023 when a slim version comes out.

[--Onilink--]

It had already been observed that running without plates significantly improved temperatures, so I wouldnt really say they provided some special airflow as much as suffocated the vents a lot in favor of design.

As it happens with almost all PC cases, giving the case more ventilation will very likely improve temps at the cost of additional dust, unless you use the mesh grill they mention (though the mesh would also impede air a bit)

I dont mind the white plates to the point that I would pay so much just for some different color plates, but I still would have liked a different design for that vent hole that dbrand added

[TheDibbler]

That is what this is all about. They want people to have to buy another console to have it in black rather than just sell black plates. It is pure greed. These are just plastic panels that they already have the injection molds for. Literally just a color swap and bingo you have an accessory ready to sell. They aren't doing it because they can sell a whole new console the other way.

This is just ridiculous. I don't remember a problem when the 360 had plates that could be swapped out. This is only a problem because they are making it one.

[Orbilator]

PS4 had airflow problems and ran hot and noisey.

Ps5 has no airflow problems and runs cool and silent.

Not sure what some of the comments are on about. Both next gen consoles concentrated on heat and airflow this gen to get them silent, and both have succeeded, unless your stupid and put either console in an enclosed space.

[Duke19]

I kindof like the concept of all black, but imo the shape just looks ugly without the full fins of the PS5

[darksky]

They should have gone for a full box style design that makes it look like an XSX. Some people would go for that.

[Zhipp]

Am I the only one who likes this shape more? I actually don't care for darkplates, but I would actually buy DBrand's white plates just for the more sleek look they give the console.

[darthv72]

Go for it. i bought the gray ones as I wanted a gray / black two tone digital to go with the all black disc i have now.

[porkChop]

Personally I think these look better, and they'll provide more airflow for cooling which is another bonus.

[Kekewei]

Agree, really like the black plate, but the new design make PS5 like a bald... Just hope PS5 slim won't be anything like this.

[CaptainHenry916]

Kinda ugly too me

[Stanjara]

Airflow is messed up. PS5 with closed plates puls the air through the whole system cooling other components like SSD and memory chips.

I would not bother with this one even thought i like PS5 without the collar.

[darthv72]

It would still pull the air through, only now it would be an influx of much cooler air to circulate as it would pull from the unobstructed sides and circulate it throughout and then vent out the back like normal.

[Pocahontas]

Maybe

[Stanjara]

Mmmm no. That vent is channelled to focus the air to the radiators, and through pipes they all come down to the Apu. That's it. That whole ventilator is meant to cool only Apu.

The rest of the components that generate heat like SSD and chipset are cooled by airflow intake to the vent. Vent is purposely blocked so that the air comes from the sides through the system. That's why side plates are part of the design and are patented. They are not just decoration.

[Aussiesummer]

Douchebrand. They are fookin hideous!

[ocelot07]

They look horrid.

[curtain_swoosh]

whats with the jerk attitude?

id sue them just for that.

[NoFanBoy]

Good for space saving but looks ugly to me.

[Relientk77]

"So you have chosen death."

- Sony, probably

[VenomCarnage89]

Wow it's uglier than your ex

[MetroidFREAK21]

I'll stick with my default ones until Sony release official ones. The new revised versions look awful anyway

[medman]

The way Sony drags their ass on custom anything for consoles/controllers your wait will be a long one....hell, I'm still waiting for custom dashboards....I've been waiting for generations already. Don't get me wrong, I love my playstations, but damn Sony makes it difficult for me to understand their reluctance to embrace customization...it's easy money, what is the problem?

[darthv72]

PS4 did get custom hdd bay covers not long after launch. It was nice they offered something for the PS4, but then they went and changed to the slim. So your best bet was full case replacement shells in different colors if you wanted to customize.

The design of the 5 just begs for customization. otherwise why make it so both panels just pop off? At least the 5 has this option unlike the series. Cant do any replacement shells... only paint it or vinyl wraps.

[MetroidFREAK21]

It's not that I'm against it, have at it if you're interested. Me personally, much rather have OEM vs 3rd party

[nickanasty206]

Don't get me wrong, i think Dbrand is not handling this whole situation very professionally but I also don't see why third parties can not make accessories for a console. In all previous generations there have been plenty of third-party options to satisfy everybody. Sony is putting their foot down on just about anything third party but controller chargers. I can't help but not be a fan of that.

[darthv72]

i ordered the grey ones for the digital 5 edition. I should get them in January.

[medman]

Funny thing....I recently took the plates off and opened up my ps5 to install an ssd...there was very little dust in the system...hardly any, and I've had it since launch day and my ps4, ps3, and other electronic devices are dust magnets in my setup...I have to regularly clear them of dust, ps4 especially. I checked my series x and there was also very little dust on the heat sink and inside the fan. I'm impressed with the design of both consoles.

I'm wondering if the fan vents I'm seeing on these aftermarket plates would possibly introduce more dust into the ps5 than the Sony designed fins would...I would have to think they would.

[SavageFlamingo]

They definitely will invite dust. Even if the plates include dust filters on the vents, that’s just adding more to clean.

[Bladesfist]

Not necessarily if they have dust filters, the dust filters on my PC case are really effective, any dust small enough to get through will take years to accumulate and become visible on the inside. I just clean the filters every 6 months or so and have never needed to clean inside.

[DoctorOswin]

This thing is ugly.

[jznrpg]

Dbrand stands for douchebrand . Just say we made some new plates that hopefully aren’t patent infringing . If Sony wanted to they could bury them in legal fees before they ever got a verdict . Don’t challenge companies for publicity just make a decent product that’s is your own design . If they went to Sony first and asked them to be a third party dealer they could have made some good $

[UncertainCategory]

It’s all marketing. This is the number 1 story on this website and others, precisely due to the challenges and buzz they have made over it. They will sell so much more product doing this than they would have if they quietly released something.

It’s all to generate clicks and make sales, and it’s absolutely working out for them so much better than your proposed solution.

[DOSemp]

Still ugly AF!

[quenomamen]

Is that fan grate better for cooling or just show ?

[Harryvok]

I got the original dark plates and like them. I actually like this new design, but i keep my PS5 horizontal. I think these new plates look better in the vertical position.

[darthv72]

I like the original ones as well but I cant quite tell if they made these so you could stand the system up without the need for the detachable base. It looked like it but Im just not sure.

[northpaws]

I would love third party custom plates, but because of their attitudes, I will not support them.

[DCarnage]

Sony probably had no plans for customizing the case. Sony, stealing ideas and getting butt hurt since the SNES controller. Go ahead and downvote this to hell but you know I'm right.

[mastershredder]

Oh yay Dbrand. You really set them straight. Cringe. It's kind of like stepping in unwanted dog crap and then the dog crap sues you after you scraped it off the bottom of your foot.

In a world where no one cares... No one cares. They'll barley make back what they spent legal fees vs. what they'll actually take in panel sale profits for a while. At least we know what the D stands for now.

[UncertainCategory]

Have you been to their website? They are already selling out. The dark plates are on back order until January now.

It’s very clearly working, and people very clearly care. Like it or hate it, this kind of headline grabbing marketing is indisputably effective.

[mkis007]

Question is will they be able to operate long enough while its tied up in court?

[sourOG]

Lmao! That’s grey one looks nice, if they come out on top when Sony sues their ass then they will get a victory buy from me. I’m not preordering shit though lol.

“If they want to try they better be ready to pay our legal fees”

Lmao get em tho. They will be sued but they have a better chance this time. You can’t assume court will go your way just because you have the facts though. Judges are flawed people like everyone else.

[plmkoh]

There's a good reason why business shut up when faced with legal matters. Now they look stupid.

But of course they've learnt nothing and continue blabbing about useless stuff that won't help them move on.

[TitanUp]

I hope official plates from Sony are coming soon.