An Australian businessman who modifies Sony PlayStations to enable them to play copied games on Thursday won a four-year legal battle against the company.

Sony PlayStations are equipped with an anti-infringment device that prevents unauthorized copies of games being played.

Stevens from Sydney, Australia's biggest city, was installing modification chips that enabled him to bypass the anti- infringement devices.

Lawyers for Sony argued that Stevens' modifications were illegal.

In 2002, the Federal Court ruled that the modification chips sold for the original Sony Playstation did not constitute a breach of copyright under Australian laws.

Sony launched a successful appeal to the full bench of the Federal Court, which Stevens further appealed to the High Court.

In a unanimous decision, the High Court ruled that the devices used by Sony to stop copied games being played did not meet the legislative definition of "technological protection measures" under the Copyright Act, Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio reported.

Lawyers for Stevens said High Court decision was a win for the consumer.

Source: Xinhua