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{{Infobox Company
| company_name = Sony Corporation
| company_logo = [[Image:Sony logo.svg|220px|]]
| slogan = like.no.other
| company_type = [[Public company|Public]]<br>({{Tyo|6758}})<br>({{nyse|SNE}})
| foundation = 7 May 1946 (adopted current name in 1958)<ref name=sonycorpinfo>{{citeweb|url=http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/CorporateInfo/|title=Sony Global - Corporate Information|accessdate=2007-07-24}}</ref>
| founder = [[Masaru Ibuka]]<br>[[Akio Morita]]
| location = {{flagicon|Japan}} [[Minato, Tokyo]], [[Japan]]<ref name="sonycorpinfo"/>
| area_served = [[Worldwide]]
| key_people = [[Sir Howard Stringer]]<br><small>([[Chairman]]) & ([[CEO]])</small><ref name="sonycorpinfo"/><br />[[Ryoji Chubachi]]<br><small>([[President]]) & ([[CEO|Electronics CEO]])<ref name="sonycorpinfo"/>
| industry = [[Consumer electronics]]<br>[[Entertainment]]
| products = [[Audio equipment|Audio]]<br>[[Video]]<br>[[Televisions]]<br>[[Information Technology|Communications and Information Technology]]<br>[[Semiconductors]]<br>[[Electronic components]]<br>[[Motion Picture]]<br>[[Music]]<br>[[Online|Online Business]]<br>[[PlayStation (brand)|Sony PlayStation]]
| services = [[Financial services]]
| market cap = [[United States Dollar|US$]] 36.83 Billion (''2008'')
| revenue = {{profit}} [[United States Dollar|US$]] 88.714 Billion (''2008'')<ref name="2007 Q4">{{citeweb|url=http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/financial/fr/07q4_sony.pdf|title=Sony Corporation Earnings release for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2008|format=PDF}}</ref>
| operating_income = {{profit}} [[United States Dollar|US$]] 3.745 Billion (''2008'')
| net_income = {{profit}} [[United States Dollar|US$]] 3.694 Billion (''2008'')
| assets = {{increase}} [[United States Dollar|US$]] 117.603 Billion (''2008'')
| equity = {{increase}} [[United States Dollar|US$]] 32.465 Billion (''2008'')
| num_employees = 180,501 (as of 31 March 2008) <ref name="sonycorpinfo"/>
| parent =
| subsid = [[Sony Corporation shareholders and subsidiaries|List of the subsidiaries]]
| homepage = [http://www.sony.net Sony.net]
| footnotes =
}}
{{Nihongo|''' Sony Corporation'''|ソニー株式会社|Sonī Kabushiki kaisha}} is a [[multinational corporation|multinational]] [[list of conglomerates|conglomerate]] corporation headquartered in [[Minato, Tokyo]], [[Japan]], and one of the world's largest [[media conglomerate]]s with [[revenue]] exceeding US$88.7 billion (as of 2008).<ref name="sonycorpinfo"/> Sony is one of the leading manufacturers of [[electronics]], [[video]], [[communication]]s, [[video game consoles]] and [[information technology]] products for the consumer and professional markets. Its name is derived from [[Sonus]], the [[Greek mythology|Greek]] goddess of sound.

Sony Corporation is the electronics business unit and the parent company of the [[Sony Group]], which is engaged in business through its five operating segments—electronics, games, entertainment (motion pictures and music), financial services and other. These make Sony one of the most comprehensive entertainment companies in the world. Sony's principal business operations include Sony Corporation ([[Sony Electronics]] in the U.S.), [[Sony Pictures Entertainment]], [[Sony Computer Entertainment]], [[Sony Music Entertainment]], [[Sony Ericsson]] and [[Sony Financial Holdings]]. As a semiconductor maker, Sony is among the [[Worldwide Top 20 Semiconductor Sales Leaders]]. The company's slogan is ''Sony. Like no other.''<ref name="like.no.other">{{cite web | last = | first = | authorlink = | coauthors = | title = Like No Other is the new strap-line from Sony | work = | publisher = Sony Global Headquarters Electronics Home |date= | url = http://www.sony.net/electronics/like.no.other/ | format = | doi = | accessdate = 2006-10-18 }}</ref>

== History ==

[[Image:Tobei.gif|thumb|left|[[Masaru Ibuka]], the co-founder of Sony]]
In 1945, after [[World War II]], [[Masaru Ibuka]] started a [[radio]] repair shop in a bombed-out building in Tokyo.<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/CorporateInfo/History/history.html|title=Sony Global - Corporate history|accessdate=2007-02-16}}</ref> The next year, he was joined by his colleague [[Akio Morita]] and they founded a company called Tokyo Tsushin Kogyo K.K.<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.sony.net/Fun/SH/1-1/h2.html|title=Sony Global - Sony History|accessdate=2007-02-16}}</ref>, which translates in English to Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering Corporation. The company built Japan's first [[tape recorder]] called the Type-G.<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.sony.net/Fun/SH/1-2/h5.html|title=Sony Global - Sony History|accessdate=2007-02-16}}</ref>

In the early 1950s, Ibuka traveled in the [[United States]] and heard about [[Bell Labs]]' invention of the [[transistor]].<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.sony.net/Fun/SH/1-4/h1.html|title=Sony Global - Sony History|accessdate=2007-02-16}}</ref> He convinced Bell to license the transistor technology to his Japanese company. While most American companies were researching the transistor for its military applications, Ibuka looked to apply it to communications. Although the American companies Regency and [[Texas Instruments]] built the first transistor radios, it was Ibuka's company that made them commercially successful for the first time.
[[Image:Howard Stringer.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Sony current boss [[Howard Stringer]]]]
In August 1955, Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering released the Sony [[TR-55]], Japan's first commercially produced [[transistor radio]].<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/CorporateInfo/History/sonyhistory-b.html|title=Sony Global - Product & Technology Milestones-Radio|accessdate=2002-12-16}}</ref> They followed up in December of the same year by releasing the Sony TR-72, a product that won favor both within Japan and in export markets, including [[Canada]], [[Australia]], the [[Netherlands]] and [[Germany]]. Featuring six transistors, push-pull output and greatly improved sound quality, the TR-72 continued to be a popular seller into the early sixties.

In May 1956, the company released the TR-6, which featured an innovative slim design and sound quality capable of rivaling portable tube radios. It was for the TR-6 that Sony first contracted "Atchan", a cartoon character created by Fuyuhiko Okabe, to become its [[advertising character]]. Now known as "Sony Boy", the character first appeared in a cartoon ad holding a TR-6 to his ear, but went on to represent the company in ads for a variety of products well into the mid-sixties.<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.sony.net/Fun/SH/1-6/h3.html|title=Sony Global - Sony History|accessdate=2007-02-16}}</ref> The following year, 1957, Tokyo Telecommunications Engineering came out with the TR-63 model, then the smallest (112 × 71 × 32 mm) transistor radio in commercial production. It was a worldwide commercial success.<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.sony.net/Fun/SH/1-6/h2.html|title=Sony Global - Sony History|accessdate=2007-02-16}}</ref>

[[University of Arizona]] professor Michael Brian Schiffer, Ph.D., says, "Sony was not first, but its transistor radio was the most successful. The TR-63 of 1957 cracked open the U.S. market and launched the new industry of consumer microelectronics." By the mid 1950s, American teens had begun buying portable transistor radios in huge numbers, helping to propel the fledgling industry from an estimated 100,000 units in 1955 to 5,000,000 units by the end of 1968. However, this huge growth in portable transistor radio sales that saw Sony rise to be the dominant player in the consumer electronics field<ref>{{citeweb|url=http://www.medill.northwestern.edu/medill/inside/medill_voices/how_transistor_radios_and_web_and_newspapers_and_hifi_radio_are_alike.html| title=Medill - Northwestern University|accessdate=2002-02-16}}</ref> was not because of the consumers who had bought the earlier generation of tube radio consoles, but was driven by a distinctly new American phenomenon at the time called [[rock and roll]].

=== Origin of name ===
[[Image:Sony Building Japan 2006 - Tokyo - Ginza.JPG|thumb|right|A Sony building in [[Ginza]], Tokyo]]
When Kogyo was looking for a romanized name to use to market themselves, they strongly considered using their initials, TTK. The primary reason they did not is that the railway company [[Tokyu|Tokyo Kyuko]] was known as TKK.<ref name="sonyfun1">{{citeweb|url=http://www.sony.co.jp/Fun/SH/1-6/h2.html|title=Sony Japan｜Sony History|accessdate=2002-02-16}}</ref>. The company occasionally used the acronym "Totsuko" in Japan, but during his visit to the United States, Morita discovered that Americans had trouble pronouncing that name. Another early name that was tried out for a while was "Tokyo Teletech" until Morita discovered that there was an American company already using Teletech as a brand name.<ref>''[[Made in Japan (biography)|Made in Japan]]'' - Akio Morita and Sony (pg. 76) by [[Akio Morita]] with Edwin M. Rheingold and Mitsuko Shimomura, Signet Books, 1986</ref>

The name "''Sony''" was chosen for the brand as a mix of the [[Latin]] word ''Sony'' or ''son(us)'' and also a little boy ''sonny''<!-- this fact is well known in Japan. See Japanese web site http://www.sony.co.jp/SonyInfo/CorporateInfo/History/ -->, which is the root of sonic and sound as well as familiar word of everybody called a boy in February 1955, and company name changed to Sony in January 1958. Morita pushed for a word that does not exist in any language so that they could claim the word "Sony" as their own (which paid off when they successfully sued a [[candy]] producer using the name, who claimed that "Sony" was an existing word in some language).<ref name="sonyfun1"/>

At the time of the change, it was extremely unusual for a Japanese company to use [[Romaji|Roman letters]] instead of [[kanji]] to spell its name. The move was not without opposition: TTK's principal bank at the time, [[Mitsui]], had strong feelings about the name. They pushed for a name such as Sony Electronic Industries, or Sony Teletech. [[Akio Morita]] was firm, however, as he did not want the company name tied to any particular industry. Eventually, both Ibuka and Mitsui Bank's chairman gave their approval.<ref name="sonyfun2">{{citeweb|url=http://www.sony.co.jp/Fun/SH/1-7/h4.html|title=Sony Japan｜Sony History|accessdate=2006-02-16}}</ref>

== Notable Sony products, technologies and proprietary formats ==
{{seealso|List of Sony trademarks}}
[[Image:Sony SLV-SE410K.JPG|thumb|left|A Sony VCR]]
Sony has historically been notable for creating its own in-house standards for new recording and storage technologies instead of adopting those of other manufacturers and standards bodies. The most infamous of these was the [[videotape format war]] of the early 1980s, when Sony marketed the [[Betamax]] system for [[video cassette recorder]]s against the [[VHS]] format developed by [[JVC]]. In the end, VHS gained critical mass in the marketplace and became the worldwide standard for consumer VCRs and Sony adopted the format. While Betamax is for all practical purposes an obsolete format, a professional-oriented [[component video]] format called [[Betacam]] that was derived from Betamax is still used today, especially in the film and television industry.

Early Sony products included [[Reel-to-reel audio tape recording|reel-to-reel tape recorders]] and [[transistor radio]]s.

In 1968 Sony introduced the [[Trinitron]] [[brand name]] for its line of [[aperture grille]] [[cathode ray tube]] [[television]]s and (later) [[computer display|computer monitors]]. Trinitron displays are still produced, but only for markets like [[India]] and [[China]]. Sony discontinued the last Trinitron-based television set in the USA Spring of 2007. Trinitron computer monitors were discontinued in 2005.

Sony launched the [[Betamax]] [[Videocassette recorder|videocassette recording]] format in 1975. In 1979 the [[Walkman]] brand was introduced, in the form of the world's first portable music player.

1982 saw the launch of Sony's professional [[Betacam]] videotape format and the collaborative [[Compact Disc]] format. In 1983 Sony introduced 90mm micro diskettes (better known as 3.5-inch [[floppy disk]]s), which it had developed at a time when there were 4" floppy disks and a lot of variations from different companies to replace the then on-going 5.25" floppy disks. Sony had great success and the format became dominant; 3.5" floppy disks gradually became obsolete as they were replaced by current media formats. In 1983 Sony launched the [[MSX]], a home computer system, and introduced the world (with their counterpart [[Philips]]) to the [[Compact Disc]] or [[CD]]. In 1984 Sony launched the [[Discman]] series which extended their Walkman brand to portable CD products. In 1985 Sony launched their Handycam products and the [[8 mm video format|Video8 format]]. Video8 and the follow-on hi-band [[Hi-8]] format became popular in the consumer camcorder market. In 1987 Sony launched the 4mm DAT or [[Digital Audio Tape]] as a new digital audio tape standard.

[[Image:Discman D121.jpg|thumb|[[Sony Discman]]]]
In addition to developing consumer-based recording media, after the launch of the [[CD]] Sony began development of commercially based recording media. In 1986 they launched Write-Once [[optical discs]] (WO) and in 1988 launched [[Magneto-optical disc]]s which were around 125MB size for the specific use of archival data storage.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.sony.net/Fun/SH/1-21/h4.html
| title = Sony History on development of Magneto Optical Discs
| language =
| accessdate = 2007-02-06
| year = 2007
}}</ref>

In the early 1990s two high-density optical storage standards were being developed: one was the MultiMedia Compact Disc (MMCD), backed by Philips and Sony, and the other was the Super Density disc (SD), supported by [[Toshiba]] and many others. Philips and Sony abandoned their MMCD format and agreed upon Toshiba's SD format with only one modification based on MMCD technology, viz [[Eight-to-Fourteen Modulation|EFMPlus]]. The unified disc format was called [[DVD]] which was marketed in 1997.

Sony introduced the [[MiniDisc]] format in 1993 as an alternative to [[Philips]] DCC or [[Digital Compact Cassette]]. Since the introduction of [[MiniDisc]], Sony has attempted to promote its own audio compression technologies under the [[ATRAC]] brand, against the more widely used [[MP3]]. Until late 2004, Sony's [[Walkman#Network Walkman|Network Walkman]] line of digital portable music players did not support the MP3 de facto standard natively, although the provided software [[SonicStage]] would convert MP3 files into the ATRAC or ATRAC3 formats.

[[Image:Sonybraviahdtv.JPG|thumb|left|Sony's [[BRAVIA]] series [[HDTV]]]]
In 1993, Sony challenged the industry standard [[Dolby Digital]] 5.1 surround sound format with a newer and more advanced proprietary motion picture digital audio format called [[SDDS]] (Sony Dynamic Digital Sound). This format employed eight channels (7.1) of audio opposed to just six used in Dolby Digital 5.1 at the time. Unlike Dolby Digital, SDDS utilized a method of backup by having mirrored arrays of bits on both sides of the film which acted as a measure of reliability in case the film was partially damaged. Ultimately, SDDS has been vastly overshadowed by the preferred DTS ([[Digital Theatre System]]) and Dolby Digital standards in the motion picture industry. SDDS was solely developed for use in the theatre circuit; Sony never intended to develop a home theatre version of SDDS.

[[Image:SCPH-75000CB.jpg|thumb|upright|The [[PlayStation 2]]]]
In 1998, Sony launched their [[Memory Stick]] format; [[Flash memory|flash]] [[memory card]]s for use in Sony lines of digital cameras and portable music players. It has seen little support outside of Sony's own products with [[Secure Digital|Secure Digital (SD)]] cards commanding considerably greater popularity. Sony has made updates to the Memory Stick format with [[Memory Stick#Memory_Stick_Duo_and_PRO_Duo|Memory Stick Duo]] and [[Memory Stick#Memory_Stick_Micro|Memory Stick Micro]].

Sony and Philips jointly developed the Sony-Philips digital interface format ([[S/PDIF]]) and the high-fidelity audio system [[Super Audio CD|SACD]]. The latter has since been entrenched in a format war with [[DVD-Audio]]. At present, neither has gained a major foothold with the general public. CDs are preferred by consumers because of their ubiquitous presence in consumer devices.

In 1994 Sony launched the [[PlayStation]] (later ''PS one''). This successful console was succeeded by the [[PlayStation 2]] in 2000, itself succeeded by the [[PlayStation 3]] in 2006. The PlayStation brand was extended to the portable games market in 2005 by the [[PlayStation Portable]]. Sony developed the [[Universal Media Disc]] (UMD) optical disc medium for use on the PlayStation Portable.
Although Sony tried to push the UMD format for movies, major studios stopped supporting the format in the Spring of 2006.

In 2004, Sony built upon the [[MiniDisc]] format by releasing [[MiniDisc#Hi-MD|Hi-MD]]. Hi-MD allows the playback and recording of audio on newly-introduced 1GB Hi-MD discs in addition to playback and recording on regular MiniDiscs. Recordings on the Hi-MD Walkmans can be transferred to and from the computer virtually unrestricted, unlike earlier [[MiniDisc#NetMD|NetMD]]. In addition to saving audio on the discs, Hi-MD allows the storage of computer files such as documents, videos and photos. Hi-MD introduced the ability to record CD-quality audio with a linear PCM recording feature. It was the first time since MiniDisc's introduction in 1992 that the [[ATRAC]] [[codec]] could be bypassed and lossless CD-quality audio could be recorded on the small discs.

[[Image:SonyStyleEaston.JPG|thumb|left|Sony's retail store, Sony Style]]
Sony is currently touting the [[Blu-ray Disc]] optical disc format, which competed with [[Toshiba]]'s [[HD DVD]]. As of quarter three of 2007, Blu-ray Disc had the backing of every major motion picture studio except Universal, Paramount and Dreamworks.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/games/archives/2007/08/22/paramount_drops_bluray_michael_bay_drops_paramount.html
| title = Paramount drops Blu-ray, Michael Bay drops Paramount
| language =
| accessdate = 2007-08-22
| year = 2007
}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/technology/AP-Dueling-DVD-Formats.html?ex=1345262400&en=4da66f6caca393b6&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss
| title = Paramount to Drop Blu-Ray HD DVDs
| language =
| accessdate = 2007-08-22
| year = 2007
}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://blog.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward/2007/08/highdefinition_disc_disarray_c.html
| title = High-Definition Disc Disarray (Cont'd.)
| language =
| accessdate = 2007-08-22
| year = 2007
}}</ref>. Since then, Blu-Ray has ended up as the dominant HD media format, with [[Toshiba]] announcing their defeat, and plans to stop supporting [[HD DVD]] on the 19th of February 2008. In December 2006 Sony debuted their first [[Blu-ray]] player, the [[Sony BDP-S1]] with an MSRP of US $999.95.

[[Image:Sony Vaio-show-20080915.jpg|thumb|Sony [[Vaio]] fashion show in 2008]]
On September 10, 2007 Sony unveiled ''[[Rolly (Sony)|Rolly]],'' an [[Egg (biology)|egg]]-shaped [[digital]] [[robotic]] [[music player]] which has colour lights that flash as it “''dances''” and has flapping wings that can twist to its [[tunes]]. Movements along with the music downloaded from personal [[computers]] and [[Bluetooth]] can be set. Rolly, which went on sale in [[Japan]] on September 29, 2007, has one [[gigabyte]] of [[memory]] to store tunes. Sony also developed dog-shaped robots called [[Aibo]] and [[humanoids]] and [[Qrio]].<ref>[http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=27&ContentID=40047 News.com.au, Sony unveils new twisting music player]</ref>

In summary, Sony has over the years introduced these standards: Umatic (~1968), Betamax (1975), Betacam (81), Compact Disc (82), 3.5 inch Floppy Disk (82), Video8 (85), DAT (87), Hi8 (88), Minidisc (~90), Digital Betacam (~90), miniDV (92), Memory Stick (98), Digital8 (99), PSP Universal Media Disc (~2003), HDV (~2004), Blu-ray Disc (2006).

== Management ==
On June 22, 2005, [[Nobuyuki Idei]] stepped down as Sony Corp. Chairman and Group CEO and was replaced by [[Howard Stringer]], then Chairman and CEO of Sony Corporation of America, Corporate Executive Officer, Vice Chairman and COO Sony Entertainment Business Group. Sony's decision to replace Idei with the British Howard Stringer marked the first time that a foreigner has run a major Japanese electronics firm. On the same date, [[Kunitake Ando]] stepped down as President and was replaced by Ryoji Chubachi.<ref>[http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200503/05-014E/index.html Sony Corporation Announces New Management Structure]. Sony.net. Retrieved March 7, 2005.</ref>

=== Mergers, acquisitions, and joint ventures ===
* 1988 &mdash; Acquired CBS Records Group from [[CBS]]. It was renamed "[[Sony Music Entertainment]]".
* 1989 &mdash; Acquired Columbia Pictures Entertainment from [[the Coca-Cola Company]] for US$3.4 billion. It was subsequently renamed "[[Sony Pictures Entertainment]]" in 1991.
* 1993 &mdash; Acquired [[Psygionosis|Psygnosis Limited]] a computer games company based in Liverpool, UK. Psygnosis director Ian Hetherington was made Managing Director of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe.<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://home.iprimus.com.au/danmcpharlin/purpleowl/psygnosis-history.html
| title = The Purple Owl - Psygnosis History
| language =
| accessdate = 2007-02-05
| year = 2007
}}</ref>
* 1995 &mdash; [[Sony/ATV Music Publishing]] LLC, a 50:50 joint venture of [[Sony Corporation of America]] and [[Michael Jackson]].
* 1997 &mdash; [[ST Liquid Crystal Display Corporation]] (STLCD), a 50:50 joint venture of Sony Corporation and [[Toyota Industries Corporation]].
* 2001 &mdash; [[Sony Ericsson]], a 50:50 joint venture of Sony Corporation and [[Ericsson]] AB, was established in October.
* 2002 &mdash; [[Aiwa]] Corporation in October.
* 2004 &mdash; [[S-LCD|S-LCD Corporation]], a joint venture of Sony Corporation and [[Samsung Electronics]] Co. Ltd (Samsung Electronics: 50% plus 1 share, Sony: 50% minus 1 share) was established in April.
* 2004 &mdash; On 20 July 2004, the [[EU]] approved a 50-50 merger between [[Sony Music Entertainment]] and [[BMG]]. The new company was named [[Sony BMG Music Entertainment]] and, as of 2005, holds a 21.5% share in the global music market, behind worldwide leader [[Universal Music Group]], which has a 25.5% share.
* 2005 &mdash; On 8 April 2005, The MGM Company ([[MGM|Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer]] and [[United Artists]]) was acquired by a Sony-led consortium ([[Providence Equity Partners]] 29%, [[Texas Pacific Group]] 21%, Sony 20%, [[Comcast]] 20%, [[Credit Suisse|DLJ Merchant Banking Partners]] 7% and [[Quadrangle Group]] 3%) finalised the deal to purchase the film studio for about $4.8 billion, including $2bn in debts from Armenian-American [[Kirk Kerkorian]].
* 2006 &mdash; [[Sony NEC Optiarc|Sony NEC Optiarc Inc]], a 55:45 (Sony 55%, [[NEC]] 45%) joint venture of Sony Corporation and [[NEC]] Corporation, was established in April.
* 2006 &mdash; Obtained an option to acquire half of Michael Jackson's 50% stake in Sony/ATV Music Publishing.
* 2006 &mdash; Acquired digital Single Lens Reflex ([[Digital SLR]]) cameras section from [[Konica Minolta]] including digital camera support and servicing.
* 2006 &mdash; Acquired Grouper Networks (now [[Crackle|Crackle, Inc.]]), a [[Sausalito, California|Sausalito]]-based startup company that created a user generated video sharing platform and P2P technology for $65M.
* 2006 &mdash; Field Emission Technologies Inc., a [[Spin-off|carve-out]] of Sony's nano-Spindt FED technology. Established in December 2006 by Technology Carve-Out Investment LLP (62.2%) and Sony (37.8%).
* 2007 &mdash; Qreatic Design Inc, a 50:50 joint venture of Sony Corporation and [[Qimonda]] AG.
* 2007 &mdash; Moversa GmbH, a 50:50 joint venture of Sony Corporation and [[NXP Semiconductors]].
* 2008 &mdash; Acquired [[Gracenote]], Inc. for $260M.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gracenote.com/company_info/press/042208/|title=Sony Corporation of America to Acquire Gracenote|publisher=Gracenote|accessdate=2008-04-22}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gracenote.com/company_info/press/060208/|title=Sony Corporation of America Completes Gracenote Acquisition|publisher=Gracenote|accessdate=2008-06-22}}</ref>
* 2008 &mdash; Acquired [[Bertelsmann|Bertelsmann AG]]'s 50% stake in Sony BMG Music Entertainment<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200808/08-0805E/index.html|title=Sony to Purchase Bertelsmann's 50% Stake in Sony BMG|publisher=Sony Corporation|accessdate=2008-05-05}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sony.com/SCA/press/081001.shtml|title=Sony Completes Acquisition of Bertelsmann’s 50% Stake in Sony BMG Music Company Becomes Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America|publisher=Sony Corporation|accessdate=2008-10-02}}</ref>

===Manufacturing base===
Slightly more than 50% of the electronics' segment's total annual production during the fiscal year 2005 took place in Japan, including the production of digital cameras, video cameras, flat panel televisions, personal computers, semiconductors and components such as batteries and Memory Stick.

Approximately 65% of the annual production in Japan was destined for other regions. China accounted for slightly more than 10% of total annual production, approximately 70% of which was destined for other regions.

Asia, excluding Japan and China, accounted for slightly more than 10% of total annual production with approximately 60% destined for Japan, the US and the EU.

The Americas and Europe together accounted for the remaining slightly less than 25% of total annual production, most of which was destined for local distribution and sale.
[http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/financial/ar/2006/qfhh7c00000akslc-att/qfhh7c00000aksmr.pdf]

== Controversies ==
=== Fictitious movie reviewer ===
In July 2000, a marketing executive working for Sony Corporation created a fictitious film critic, [[David Manning (fictitious writer)|David Manning]], who gave consistently good reviews for releases from Sony subsidiary Columbia Pictures, which generally received poor reviews amongst real critics.<ref name="critic">{{cite news | url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/film/3524759.stm | publisher = BBC News | title = Legal fight over fake film critic |date= 2 March 2004}}</ref>

=== Digital rights management ===
{{main|2005 Sony BMG CD copy protection scandal}}
In October 2005, it was revealed by [[Mark Russinovich]] of [[Sysinternals]] that [[Sony BMG Music Entertainment]]'s music CDs had installed a [[rootkit]] on the user's computer as a [[digital rights management|DRM]] measure (called [[Extended Copy Protection]] by its creator, British company [[First 4 Internet]]), which was difficult to detect or remove.<ref>[http://www.eff.org/IP/DRM/Sony-BMG/ Sony BMG Litigation Info]. EFF.org. Electronic Frontier Foundation.</ref> This constitutes a crime in many countries, and poses a major security risk to affected users. The uninstaller Sony initially provided removed the rootkit, but in turn installed a [[phoning home|dial-home]] program that posed an even greater security risk. Sony eventually provided an actual uninstaller that removed all of Sony's DRM program from the user's computer. Sony BMG faced several class action lawsuits regarding this matter.<ref> [[n:Sony faces class action lawsuits for DRM|Sony faces class action lawsuits for DRM]]. Wikinews.
</ref>
On 31 January 2007, the U. S. Federal Trade Commission issued a [http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2007/01/sony.htm news release] announcing that Sony BMG had agreed to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that Sony BMG committed several offenses against United States federal law. This settlement required that Sony BMG allow consumers to exchange the CDs through 30 June 2007, and to reimburse consumers for up to $150 for the repair of damage to their computers that they may have incurred while removing the software.

In 2006 Sony started using [[ARccOS Protection]] on some of their film DVDs, which caused compatibility problems with some DVD players—including models manufactured by Sony. After complaints, Sony was forced to issue a recall.<ref>[http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070418-sony-to-replace-incompatible-dvds.html Sony admits, fixes problem with DVD DRM]. Arstechnica.com.</ref>

In August 2007, security firm F-Secure reported that the MicroVault USB thumb drive installs a rootkit in a hidden directory without consent on user computers. The directory is intended to protect fingerprint data, however it can be used for malicious means as most virus scanners will not search for the directory or its contents.<ref>[http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/hardware/soa/Sony-continues-supplying-rootkit-like-software-/0,130061702,339281600,00.htm Sony continues supplying rootkit-like software]. ZDnet.com.au.</ref> Sony advised it was conducting an investigation on the third-party product, and would offer a fix by mid-September.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6975838.stm Sony confirms security problem]. BBC News.</ref>

=== Advertisements ===
To commemorate the tenth anniversary of the [[PlayStation]] (PS) gaming console in [[Italy]], Sony released an ad depicting a man smiling towards the camera and wearing on his head a crown of thorns with button symbols (Δ, O, X, □). At the bottom, the copy read as "Ten Years of Passion". This supposedly took advantage of the publicity from the [[Mel Gibson]] film ''[[The Passion of the Christ]]''.{{Fact|date=October 2007}}
The ad outraged the [[Holy See|Vatican]] as well as many local Catholics, prompting comments such as "Sony went too far" and "Vatican ex-communicates Sony". After the incident, the campaign was quickly discontinued.{{Fact|date=October 2007}}

Sony also admitted in late 2005 to hiring [[graffiti]] artists to spray paint advertisements for their [[PlayStation Portable]] game system in seven major U.S. cities including [[New York City]], [[Philadelphia, Pennsylvania|Philadelphia]], and [[San Francisco, California|San Francisco]].<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4567236.stm Graffiti ads spark debate in US]. BBC News.</ref> The mayor of Philadelphia filed a [[cease and desist]] order. According to Sony, they paid businesses and building owners for the right to graffiti their walls.<ref>[http://www.wired.com/news/culture/0,1284,69741,00.html Wired News]</ref> As of early January 2006, Sony had no plans to keep or withdraw them.

In July 2006, Sony released a Dutch advertising campaign featuring a white model dressed entirely in white and a black model garbed in black. The first ad featured the white model clutching the face of the black model. The words "White is coming" headlined one of the ads. The ad has been viewed as racist by critics.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sony ad causes white riot |url=http://blogs.guardian.co.uk/games/archives/2006/07/05/sony_ad_casues_white_riot.html |publisher=Guardian Unlimited: Gamesblog |date=2006-07-05 |accessdate=2006-07-06}}</ref> A Sony spokesperson responded that the ad does not have a racist message, saying that it was only trying to depict the contrast between the black PSP model and the new ceramic white PSP. Other pictures of the ad campaign include the black model overpowering the white model.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sony's racially charged PSP ad |url=http://www.joystiq.com/2006/07/04/ad-critic-sonys-racially-charged-psp-ad/ |publisher=Joystiq.com |date=2006-07-04 |accessdate=2006-07-07}}</ref>

In November 2006, a marketing company employed by Sony created a website entitled "All I want for Xmas is a PSP", designed to promote the [[PlayStation Portable|PSP]] through [[Viral Marketing|viral marketing]]. The site contained a blog, which was purportedly written by "Charlie", a teenager attempting to get his friend "Jeremy"'s parents to buy him a PSP, providing links to t-shirt iron-ons, Christmas cards, and a "music video" of either Charlie or Jeremy "rapping". However, visitors to the website soon discovered that the website was registered to a marketing company, exposing the site on sites such as [[YouTube]] and [[digg]], and Sony was forced to admit the site's true origin in a post on the blog, stating that they would from then on "stick to making cool products" and that they would use the website for "the facts on the PSP". The site has since been taken down. In an interview with next-gen.biz, Sony admitted that the idea was "poorly executed".<ref>{{cite news|title=Sony: PSP Viral Campaign 'Poorly Executed' |url=http://www.next-gen.biz/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4397&Itemid=2/ |publisher=next-gen.biz/ |date=[[2006-12-13]] |accessdate=2007-01-20}}</ref>

=== Legal ===
In 2002, Sony Computer Entertainment America, marketer of the popular [[PlayStation]] game consoles, was sued by [[Immersion Corporation|Immersion Corp.]] of [[San Jose, California|San Jose]], [[California]] which claimed that Sony's PlayStation "Dual Shock" controllers infringed on Immersion's patents. In 2004, a federal jury agreed with Immersion, awarding the company US$82 million in damages. A U.S. district court judge ruled on the matter in March, 2005 and not only agreed with the federal jury's ruling but also added another US$8.7 million in damages. This is likely the reason that the sixaxis controller for the PlayStation 3 had no rumble feature. The [[DualShock 3]] has since been made available for the [[PlayStation 3]], reintroducing rumble capabilities. [[Microsoft]] Corp. was also sued for its [[Xbox]] controller, however, unlike Sony, they settled out of court so they could continue using the technology for the follow-up [[Xbox 360]]. ''Washington Post:'' [http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A6261-2005Mar28.html Pay Judgment Or Game Over, Sony Warned]

A California judge ordered Sony to pay Immersion a licensing fee of 1.37 percent per quarter based on the sales of PlayStation units, Dual Shock controllers, and a selection of PlayStation 2 games that use Immersion's technology. Microsoft is currently suing Immersion due to an alleged breach of contract, apparently stating that Microsoft would be entitled to a portion of any cash settlement between Sony and [[Immersion]].{{fact |date=December 2007}}

=== Batteries ===
In April 2006, a Sony laptop battery exploded in Japan and caught fire. A Japanese couple in Tokyo are currently (as of July, 2007) suing both Sony and [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] Japan for over ¥2 million ($16,700 USD) regarding the incident. The suit argues that the man suffered burns on his finger when the battery burst into flames while being used, and his wife had to be treated for mental distress due to the incident. <ref name="Engadget 2007-7-25">{{citenews|title=Japanese couple sues Sony and Apple over burning battery|url=http://www.engadget.com/2007/07/25/japanese-couple-sues-sony-and-apple-over-burning-battery/|publisher=Engadget|date=2007-07-25|accessdate=2007-07-25}}</ref>

On 14 August 2006, Sony and [[Dell]] admitted to major flaws in several Sony [[Lithium ion battery|batteries]] that could result in the battery overheating and catching fire. As a result they recalled over 4.1 million laptop batteries in the largest computer-related recall to that point in history. The cost of this recall is being shared between [[Dell]] and Sony. Dell also confirmed that one of its laptops caught fire in Illinois.<ref>{{cite news|title=Dell Details on Notebook Battery Recall |url=http://www.direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2006/08/14/1803.aspx |publisher=Direct2Dell |date=2006-08-14 |accessdate=2006-08-21}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Dell announces recall of 4.1 million laptop batteries |url=http://www.cbc.ca/world/story/2006/08/14/dell-recall.html |publisher=CBC News |date=2006-08-14 |accessdate=2006-09-28}}</ref> This recall also prompted Japan's [[Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (Japan)|Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry]] to order the companies to investigate the troubles with the batteries. The ministry said they must report on their findings and draw up a plan to prevent future problems by the end of August, or face a fine under Japan's consumer safety laws.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sony, Dell battery issue heats up |url=http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2006/08/24/tech-battery.html |publisher=CBC News |date=2006-08-24 |accessdate=2006-08-24}}</ref>

Ten days later on 24 August 2006, [[Apple Computer]] recalled 1.8 million Sony built batteries after receiving nine reports of batteries overheating, including two customers who suffered minor burns, and additional reports of property damage.<ref>{{cite news|title=Apple announces recall of 1.8 million laptop batteries |url=http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2006/08/24/apple-recall.html |publisher=CBC News |date=2006-08-24 |accessdate=2006-09-28}}</ref>

On 19 September 2006, [[Toshiba]] announced it was recalling 340 000 Sony laptop batteries.<ref>{{cite news|title=Toshiba Recalls 340,000 Batteries, Trouble for Sony |url=http://www.consolewatcher.com/2006/09/toshiba-recalls-340000-batteries-trouble-for-sony/ |publisher=Console Watcher |date=2006-09-19 |accessdate=2006-11-06}}</ref> This recall, however, is not related to the recalls by Apple and Dell, as the batteries are known to cause the laptops to sometimes run out of power. No injuries or other accidents have been reported, according to Toshiba spokesman Keisuke Omori.<ref>{{cite news|title=Toshiba recalls laptop batteries |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/story/2006/09/19/tech-toshiba.html |publisher=CBC News |date=2006-09-19 |accessdate=2006-09-28}}</ref>

On 23 September 2006, Sony announced its investigation<ref>{{cite news|title=Sony investigates notebook fire |url=http://money.excite.com/ht/nw/bus/20060923/hle_bus-t229782.html |publisher=Reuters |date=2006-09-23 |accessdate=2006-09-23}}</ref> of a [[Lenovo]] [[ThinkPad]] T43 laptop overheated and caught fire in Los Angeles International Airport on 16 September, an incident that was confirmed by Lenovo. On 28 September 2006, Lenovo and IBM made the global recall of 526 000 laptop batteries.<ref>{{cite news|title=Lenovo recalls 526,000 laptop batteries |url=http://www.cbc.ca/consumer/story/2006/09/28/tech-lenovo-060928.html |publisher=CBC News |date=2006-09-28 |accessdate=2006-09-28}}</ref>

On 28 September 2006, Sony announced a global battery exchange program in response to growing consumer concerns.<ref name="Sony Press Release 2006-09-28">[http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/News/Press/200609/06-090E/index.html Sony to Initiate Global Replacement Program for Notebook Computer Battery Pack], ''Sony Press Release'', September 28, 2006.</ref>

On 2 October 2006, [[Hewlett-Packard]] (HP) determined that it was not necessary for them to join the global battery replacement program.<ref name="HP News Release 2006-10-02">[http://www.hp.com/hpinfo/newsroom/press/2006/061002a.html HP and Sony Joint Statement on Recent Battery Issues.], ''Hewlett-Packard News Release'', October 2, 2006.</ref>

On 3 October 2006, the [[Yomiuri Shimbun]] (a Japanese Newspaper) reported that Sony was aware of faults in its notebook PC batteries in December 2005 but failed to fully study the problem.<ref name="Yomiuri 2006-10-03">{{cite news|title=Sony knew of faults in PC batteries in Dec., failed to fully study fire cause |url=http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/business/20061003TDY01006.htm |publisher=Daily Yomiuri Online |date=2006-10-03 |accessdate=2006-10-03}}</ref><ref name="Forbes 2006-10-02">{{cite news|title=Sony failed to fully study battery problem |url=http://www.forbes.com/business/feeds/afx/2006/10/02/afx3061270.html |publisher=Forbes.com |date=2006-10-02 |accessdate=2006-10-03}}</ref>

On 16 October 2006, [[Fujitsu]] announced it was recalling 278,000 Sony laptop batteries.<ref name="Fujitsu recalls 287,000 laptop batteries">{{cite news|title=Fujitsu Recalls 287,000 Laptop Batteries |url=http://www.consolewatcher.com/2006/10/fujitsu-recalls-287000-laptop-batteries/|publisher=Console Watcher|date=2006-10-16|accessdate=2006-11-06}}</ref> It was also reported that Fujitsu, Toshiba, and Hitachi may seek compensation from Sony over the battery recalls.<ref name="Sun-Times 2006-10-16">{{cite news|title=Fujitsu, Toshiba, Hitachi may seek compensation from Sony over battery recalls|url=http://www.suntimes.com/business/98594,101606battery.article|publisher=Chicago Sun-Times|date=2006-10-16|accessdate=2006-10-16}}</ref>

On 25 April 2007, [[Acer (company)|Acer]] announced that 27,000 batteries from [[TravelMate]] and [[Aspire]] series notebooks sold from May 2004 to November 2006 were recalled due to 16 reports of overheating and explosions. <ref name="Engadget 2007-6-29">{{citenews|title=Acer finally gets sucked into Sony battery recall|url=http://www.engadget.com/2007/04/25/acer-finally-gets-sucked-into-sony-battery-recall/|publisher=Engadget|date=2007-04-25|accessdate=2007-06-29}}</ref>

On 24 August 2007, it emerged that some of Sony's batteries that were not recalled, and in use on Dell laptop computers, may be at risk of catching fire and exploding; as another case of a Dell laptop with a Sony battery in it, came to light.<ref name="Consumer Affairs 2007-8-24">{{cite news|title=Georgia Man's Laptop Bursts into Flames|url=http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/2007/08/dell_fire.html|accessdate=2007-08-24}}</ref>

=== CCD ===
Initially, in October 2005, it was reported by Sony that there were problems with the [[charge-coupled device]]s (CCD) in 20 models of digital still cameras. The problems can prevent the cameras from taking clear pictures, and in some cases, possibly prevent a picture to be taken at all. In late November 2006, the recall was broadened to eight additional models of digital cameras sold between 2003 and 2005. The problem appears to manifest itself mostly when the camera is used in areas with hot weather. The eight models effected are the following: DSC-F88, DSC-M1, DSC-T1, DSC-T11, DSC-T3, DSC-T33, DSC-U40 and DSC-U50. Sony did indicate that they will repair or replace the affected camera at no charge. Since Sony is one of the largest producers of CCD chips, this recall may affect other manufacturer's and models of cameras, possibly as many as 100 models or more. Other manufacturers of digital cameras, including Canon, Minolta, Nikon, or Fuji have indicated they will replace faulty CCDs in their respective models of cameras if necessary.<ref>[http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&taxonomyName=mobile_wireless&articleId=9005380&taxonomyId=15 Sony finds CCD problem with some of its digital cameras]</ref>

==Environmental record==
Sony has received numerous awards and much recognition for their environmental efforts throughout the world. Their achievements in the way of energy and environmental conservation have earned them respect for their green campaign <ref>[http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/Environment/news/awards/index.html CSR Awards and Recognition from External Organizations (since fiscal 2000)]</ref> despite bad press from a low ranking on [[Greenpeace]]'s greener electronics report <ref>[http://weblog.greenpeace.org/makingwaves/archives/2007/08/sony_belatedly_unveils_us_recy.html Sony belatedly unveils US recycling policy]</ref>.

===Improvement efforts===
Since 1976, Sony has had an Environmental Conference<ref>[http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/Environment/activities/history/index.html History of Environmental Activities at Sony]</ref>. Sony's policies address their effects on global warming, the environment, and resources. They are taking steps to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases that they put out as well as regulating the products they get from their suppliers in a process that they call "green procurement" <ref>[http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/Environment/activities/vision/index.html Sony Group Environmental Vision]</ref>. Sony has said that they have signed on to have about 75 percent of their Sony Building running on [[geothermal power]]. The "Sony Take Back Recycling Program" allows consumers to recycle the electronics products that they buy from Sony by taking them to [[eCycle (Recycling)]] drop-off points around the U.S. The company has also developed a biobattery that runs on sugars and carbohydrates that works similarly to the way living creatures work. This is the most powerful small biobattery to date <ref>[http://www.techgadgets.in/misc-gadgets/2007/24/sony-develops-worlds-most-powerful-sugar-based-bio-battery-prototype/ Sony develops World’s Most Powerful Sugar-based Bio Battery Prototype]</ref>.

===Green TV===
For sale in Japan on 30 July, 2008, Sony's green product, new flat-panel 32-inch TV 150,000 yen (US$ 1,400; € 900) Bravia KDL-32JE1 offers ecological consumers advantages of less energy consumption (70% less a year) than regular models with same image quality. Sony was able to reduce [[carbon dioxide]] emissions totaling 79 [[kilograms]] (174 pounds) a year, without sacrificing quality by developing a brighter back light and better filtering, which produces light more efficiently. The TVs will have liquid crystal displays along with high-definition digital broadcast capabilities. <ref>[http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/06/17/business/AS-TEC-Japan-Sony-Green-TV.php www.iht.com, Sony develops green flat-panel TV to woo ecological consumers]</ref><ref>[http://www.gmanews.tv/story/101569/Sony-woos-ecological-consumers-with-new-flat-panel-TV gmanews.tv/story, Sony woos ecological consumers with new flat-panel TV]</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/lifestyle/green/chi-green-flat-panel-tv-sony,0,2542612.story | title="Sony develops green flat-panel TV to woo ecological consumers" | author=Kageyama, Yuri | publisher=Chicago Tribune | date=2008-06-17 | accessdate=2008-06-17}}</ref>

===Criticism===
In 2000, Sony was ridiculed for a document entitled "[[non-governmental organization|NGO]] Strategy" that was leaked to the press.{{fact |date=December 2007}} This document involved the company's surveillance of environmental activists in an attempt to plan how to counter their movements. This document specifically mentioned environmental groups that were trying to pass laws that held electronics-producing companies responsible for the clean up of the toxic chemicals contained in their merchandise <ref>[http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2000/09/sonyspy.html Sony's PR War on Activists]</ref>. In early July of 2007, Sony ranked 14th on the [[Greenpeace]] chart "Guide to Greener Electronics." This chart graded major electronics companies on their environmental work. Sony fell from its earlier 11th place ranking due to [[Greenpeace]]'s claims that Sony had double standards in their waste policies<ref>[http://weblog.infoworld.com/sustainableit/archives/2007/07/sony_hits_botto.html Sony hits bottom of Greenpeace eco rankings]</ref>.

== See also ==
{{Portal}}
* ''[[Made in Japan (biography)|Made in Japan]]''
* [[Sony Corporation shareholders and subsidiaries]]
* [[Special:Prefixindex/Sony|Articles whose titles start with Sony]]
* [[Sony CISC]]

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

== Further reading ==
* ''[[Made in Japan (biography)|Made in Japan]]'' by [[Akio Morita]] and Sony, [[Harper Collins]] (1994)
* ''Sony: The Private Life'' by [[John Nathan]], [[Houghton Mifflin]] (1999)
* ''Sony Radio, Sony Transistor Radio 35th Anniversary 1955-1990'' — information booklet (1990)
* ''The Portable Radio in American Life'' by University of Arizona Professor Michael Brian Schiffer, Ph.D. (The University of Arizona Press, 1991).
* ''The Japan Project: Made in Japan.'' — a documentary about Sony's early history in the U.S. by [[Terry Sanders]].

==External links==
{{Sisterlinks|Sony}}
{{commonscat|Sony}}
* [http://www.sony.net Sony Corporation: Global Headquarters]
* [http://esupport.sony.com/ Sony Product Technical Support]
* {{ja icon}} [http://www.sony.co.jp/ Sony Japan]
* [http://www.sony.com/ Sony America]
* [http://www.sonystyle.ca/ Sony of Canada Ltd.]
* [http://www.sony.co.in/ Sony India]
* [http://www.sony.com.sg/ Sony Singapore]
* [http://www.sony.co.kr/ Sony South Korea]
* [http://www.scee.com/ Sony Computer Entertainment (Europe)]
* [http://www.sonybmg.com/ Sony BMG]
* [http://www.sonyericsson.com Sony Ericsson]
* [http://www.sonyvaiocenter.com Sony Notebook]
* [http://www.csl.sony.co.jp/ Sony Computer Science Laboratories, Inc.]
** [http://www.csl.sony.fr/ Sony CSL Paris]
* [http://www.sonyinsider.com Sony Insider]

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[[Category:Sony|*]]
[[Category:Audio equipment manufacturers]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1946]]
[[Category:Companies based in Tokyo]]
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Revision as of 10:35, 11 October 2008

sony fucking sucks

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