Xbox 360 'facing US sales ban', judge favours Motorola in dispute

Published May 23 2012, 09:56 BST  |  By Liam Martin

The Xbox 360 should be removed from sale in America, a US judge has recommended.

Judge David Shaw of the International Trade Commission believes that the console should no longer be imported into the US and that current stock be removed from stores.

He also believes that Microsoft should post a bond of 7% on all unsold Xbox 360 consoles in the region, reports MCV.

The judge's recommendation follows last month's preliminary ruling that Xbox software infringes on Motorola's intellectual property.

Microsoft argued that a sales ban would be unfair to the consumer, limiting their options at retail.

This claim was dismissed, however, with Shaw suggesting that the enforcement of intellectual property rights "outweighs any potential economic impact on video game console buyers".

He also believes that Sony and Nintendo could cope with any additional demand.

If the ITC backs the judge and enforces the ban, the case will be taken directly to President Obama and a team of staff, who will have 60 days to review the decision before it is enforced.

Earlier this month, Motorola Mobility won an injunction to prevent the distribution and sale of several Microsoft products in Germany.