Microsoft and Sony clash over consoles

Sony dismantled its PlayStation stand

The companies behind the Xbox and PlayStation2 have fallen out over the display of their respective games consoles at the prestigious CeBIT technology show in Hanover, Germany.

Sony has pulled several of its PlayStation 2 consoles from display at the trade fair after the organisers received complaints that the company was letting people play games on the machine, which is not permitted. at the fair.

Xbox launched in Europe last week

A spokeswoman for CeBIT told BBC News Online: "We received complaints from many, many exhibitors about Sony, including from Microsoft."

The two companies, who are at the show to promote their latest products, are fierce rivals in the highly competitive world of video games consoles.

Show 'rules'

Microsoft's Xbox launched across Europe last week where it will compete with the hugely popular PlayStation 2 console from Sony.

The spokeswoman added: "Both companies were showing their machines but Microsoft followed the rules and did not have any games to play on it, while Sony did. CeBIT is not for playing games."

She said CeBIT asked Sony to switch the games off but instead the company removed all of its consoles from the fair.

"It could be they were angry," she added.

The two companies, together with Nintendo, are battling for a slice of the global $20bn (£14bn) video games market.

The three firms earn their money not just from the sales of their machines, but also from licensing and publishing deals with the companies who produce games.

No one from Sony or Microsoft was available for comment.