Bought a ₹1.5 Lakh Sony Bravia — When It Failed, Sony Threatened a ₹5 Crore Lawsuit

A customer in India purchased a 55-inch Sony Bravia Mini LED in September 2024 for ₹150,031 (roughly $3,000) with a three-year warranty from Sony and a two-year extended warranty from retailer Croma. About 22 months later, vertical green lines began appearing across the screen — well inside the stated warranty period.

Service Visit and Dispute

Sony dispatched a technician who classified the fault as "external damage" and refused a free repair. According to local reporting, Sony later quoted ₹29,130 (about $307) to replace the display panel instead of honoring the warranty. The owner repeatedly requested a detailed technical report but did not receive one.

Allegations About the Diagnosis

Video and reporting by Sportskeeda Tech reportedly show the technician admitting on camera that he had not opened the TV to inspect the internal panel and said he lacked engineering qualifications. If true, critics say that diagnosing an internal panel fault from photos — without a qualified inspection or a full technical report — functions more as a liability shield than a conclusive technical finding.

Context: Sony has previously run free evaluation and repair programs for certain Bravia models when systemic issues were identified, according to Sony support documentation. Those programs, however, are limited in scope and application.

Public Complaint and Legal Response

Frustrated, the customer documented the entire experience, registered the domain SonyBravia.com, and launched a site called "Sorry Bravia" with a chronological timeline, photographs, and copies of service communications. He also posted public warnings such as "Never buy a Sony Bravia."

On September 1, 2026, Sony reportedly sent a six-page legal notice demanding the site be taken down, the domain surrendered, and an unconditional apology issued — or face civil and criminal defamation proceedings. The notice allegedly threatened damages up to ₹5 crore (about $500,000) if the demands were not met, according to Entertales and other outlets.

Legal Commentary and Current Status

Legal commentators cited by Legal Suvidha described the notice as resembling SLAPP (strategic lawsuits against public participation) tactics — legal pressure intended to intimidate critics rather than resolve the underlying consumer dispute. Sony's notice also argued the SonyBravia.com domain misused its trademark and could mislead consumers into thinking they had reached an official Sony page — a legitimate trademark concern in isolation, but one critics say looks heavy-handed given the unresolved warranty claim on a ₹1.5 lakh TV.

The customer has refused to remove the website. His consumer complaint is pending in India's courts and the dispute remains unresolved. The case highlights the potential legal risk consumers may face when they take grievances public and raises questions about corporate responses to public criticism.

What This Means For Consumers

The episode underscores several takeaways for buyers: insist on a written technical report, record all service communications and receipts, use official complaint channels, and be aware that public criticism can prompt aggressive legal responses. Observers say courts and consumer forums will play a central role in determining whether this dispute is a routine warranty disagreement or an example of disproportionate legal escalation.