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Sony Have Killed Lik-Sang.com



  C-VXR. Once owned a Clio
Important Notice: Lik-Sang.com Out of Business due to Multiple Sony Lawsuits
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Tue Oct 24 2006 21:58:51 Hong Kong Time - Corporate Info

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - OUT OF BUSINESS NOTICE

Hong Kong, October 24th of 2006 - Lik-Sang.com, the popular gaming retailer from Hong Kong, has today announced that it is forced to close down due to multiple legal actions brought against it by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Sony claimed that Lik-Sang infringed its trade marks, copyright and registered design rights by selling Sony PSP consoles from Asia to European customers, and have recently obtained a judgment in the High Court of London (England) rendering Lik-Sang's sales of PSP consoles unlawful.

As of today, Lik-Sang.com will not be in the position to accept any new orders and will cancel and refund all existing orders that have already been placed. Furthermore, Lik-Sang is working closely with banks and PayPal to refund any store credits held by the company, and the customer support department is taking care of any open transactions such as pending RMAs or repairs and shipping related matters. The staff of Lik-Sang will make sure that nobody will get hurt in the crossfire of this ordeal.

A Sony spokesperson declined to comment directly on the lawsuit against Lik-Sang, but recently went on to tell Gamesindustry.biz that "ultimately, we're trying to protect consumers from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards, due to voltage supply differences et cetera; is not - in PS3's case - backwards compatible with either PS1 or PS2 software; will not play European Blu-Ray movies or DVDs; and will not be covered by warranty".

Lik Sang strongly disagrees with Sony's opinion that their customers need this kind of protection and pointed out that PSP consoles shipped from Lik-Sang contained genuine Sony 100V-240V AC Adapters that carry CE and other safety marks and are compatible world wide. All PSP consoles were in conformity with all EU and UK consumer safety regulations.

Furthermore, Sony have failed to disclose to the London High Court that not only the world wide gaming community in more than 100 countries relied on Lik-Sang for their gaming needs, but also Sony Europe's very own top directors repeatedly got their Sony PSP hard or software imports in nicely packed Lik-Sang parcels with free Lik-Sang Mugs or Lik-Sang Badge Holders, starting just two days after Japan's official release, as early as 14th of December 2004 (more than nine months earlier than the legal action). The list of PSP related Sony Europe orders reads like the who's who of the videogames industry, and includes Ray Maguire (Managing Director, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd), Alan Duncan (UK Marketing Director, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd), Chris Sorrell (Creative Director, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd), Rob Parkin (Development Director, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited), just to name a few.

"Today is Sony Europe victory about PSP, tomorrow is Sony Europe’s ongoing pressure about PlayStation 3. With this precedent set, next week could already be the stage for complaints from Sony America about the same thing, or from other console manufacturers about other consoles to other regions, or even from any publisher about any specific software title to any country they don’t see fit. It’s the beginning of the end... of the World as we know it", stated Pascal Clarysse, formerly known as the Marketing Manager of Lik-Sang.com.

"Blame it on Sony. That's the latest dark spot in their shameful track record as gaming industry leader. The Empire finally 'won', few dominating retailers from the UK probably will rejoice the news, but everybody else in the gaming world lost something today."
 

Lee

  BMW M2C
I read about that earlier. They took out actions in different territories to make sure they killed them good and proper.
 
  MK2 PH2 & E46 330
i bought my psp from lik-sang when it was released. i then sold it for massive profit once it arrived here, because i felt it ws kinda gash.

:D
 
  Trophy #267
harldy surprising, sony been after em for a few years and they went down for a few months or so when ass the sh1t cracked off with neo + messiah.

If your in business with mods then your a target - end of (unless your clever and keep your legit business and mod business seperate....)
 
sony are the devil always have been always will be

people b**ch about microsoft but sony are much much worse spyware in audio cd, propriatory formats spoiling everyones fun
 
  C-VXR. Once owned a Clio
sony are the devil always have been always will be

people b**ch about microsoft but sony are much much worse spyware in audio cd, propriatory formats spoiling everyones fun

agree with you there.

MS didnt make a fuss about liksang selling their console, so why should sony be bothered?
 
  C-VXR. Once owned a Clio
because sony are c**k monsters

i still want the ps3.

I Wonder if other online japanese retailers will suffer the same fate if they sell PS3s to euro customers?

playasia & yesasia still have them listed on their site :|
 
  Megane Mk4
sony are the devil always have been always will be

people b**ch about microsoft but sony are much much worse spyware in audio cd, propriatory formats spoiling everyones fun

agree with you there.

MS didnt make a fuss about liksang selling their console, so why should sony be bothered?

Sony have always had their heads up their ass when it's comes to their hardware/software and copyright. Prime example is the protection track they place on ALL their Playstation cd's/dvd's and then make their consoles illegal to modify.

Absolute muppetry if you ask me, they'll loose loads of business now through their actions. I for one won't be buying the PS3 anyway.. f**k them
 

KDF

  Audi TT Stronic
My opinion of sony has somewhat delcined...

I wasnt gonna buy a ps3 anyway..
 

Lee

  BMW M2C
My opinion of sony has somewhat delcined...

I wasnt gonna buy a ps3 anyway..

I've always been a big Sony fan. First port of call for a TV was always Sony. Now they don't really get a look in. Had a PS1 and PS2, didn't bother with an Xbox. Bought a 360 this time, and probably won't buy a PS3 unless GT HD is really worth it. I'll just borrow one from work most likely.
 
Let's hope Sony go out of business along with them. The demise of Blue Ray should do it. Never getting another penny of mine that's for sure.
 

adm

  '93 Clio 1.8 16v
My opinion of sony has somewhat delcined...

I wasnt gonna buy a ps3 anyway..

I've always been a big Sony fan. First port of call for a TV was always Sony. Now they don't really get a look in. Had a PS1 and PS2, didn't bother with an Xbox. Bought a 360 this time, and probably won't buy a PS3 unless GT HD is really worth it. I'll just borrow one from work most likely.

ditto exactly.
I had a ps3 on pre-order with lik-sang too so thats sony lost my sale..

I'll stick with my 360 and maybe get a Wii for old skool gaming
 
My Wii is on pre-order too :)

Seriously though, how are Sony 'protecting' us by doing this? Lik-Sang were a superb company and always a pleasure to deal with, thankfully Play-Asia still exist (for now).
 
  C-VXR. Once owned a Clio
i still want the ps3.

I Wonder if other online japanese retailers will suffer the same fate if they sell PS3s to euro customers?

playasia & yesasia still have them listed on their site :|
 
My favourite quote of the day...


"Thanks Sony for protecting us against dodgy foreign electronics. I'm glad I bought a proper UK spec VAIO laptop.

Hang on... does anyone else smell burning? "
 

Lee

  BMW M2C
Sony have said it's just sour grapes form Lik Sang and that they aren't responsible!! Not what Lik Sang have to say.

“Sony Computer Entertainment successfully sued Pacific Game Technology (Holding) Limited (one of who's company trading names is Lik Sang.com) for infringing our Intellectual Property rights. Lik Sang did not contest this case (ie. they did not turn up and therefore incurred no legal costs). We have been awarded substantial costs against Lik Sang which have not been paid. We would therefore strongly deny that our actions have had anything to do with this website closing (we assume the legal entity is still trading) and would suggest that this release is sour grapes on behalf of Lik Sang which is aimed to belittle Sony Computer Entertainment and the British judicial system that ruled against them.”

It also responded to the naming of several Sony executives, who are alleged to have bought PSPs from the site:

“The purchasing of PSP consoles by SCE employees would be for investigatory purposes. We would also like to express our surprise at a company releasing personal information about its consumers, as this is contrary to data protection principles around the world,” it concludes.
 
This law makes no sense.

Would I be tracked down by black helicopters if I went to Japan, bought a PSP then brought it back to the UK (declaring it at customs of course)?
 
  C-VXR. Once owned a Clio
In a statement issued to GamesIndustry.biz, Sony has denied any responsibility for the closure of Lik-Sang - accusing the online retailer of "sour grapes".
The statement begins by observing that Sony Computer Entertainment has successfully sued Pacific Game Technology, which uses Lik-Sang as one of its trading names, for infringing intellectual property rights.
"Lik-Sang did not contest this case (i.e. they did not turn up and therefore incurred no legal costs). We have been awarded substantial costs against Lik-Sang which have not been paid," the statement claims.
"We would therefore strongly deny that our actions have had anything to do with this website closing (we assume the legal entity is still trading), and would suggest that this release is sour grapes on behalf of Lik-Sang which is aimed to belittle Sony Computer Entertainment and the British judicial system that found against them."
Earlier today, Lik-Sang announced it was going out of business, citing a series of lawsuits filed by Sony as the reason for the closure. The retailer also alleged that several SCE executives purchased import PSP hardware and software on its website.
Sony responded, "The purchasing of PSP consoles by SCE employees would be for investigatory purposes. We would also like to express our surprise at a company releasing personal information about its consumers, as this is contrary to data protection principles around the world."
 


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