Sony vs Lik-Sang.com

[Melbosa]

http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3901

mportant Notice: Lik-Sang.com Out of Business due to Multiple Sony Lawsuits
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."

[Melbosa]

And a Previous Press Release:

Lik Sang's sales of Sony PSP Consoles illegal, according to London High Court Judge
Fri Oct 20 2006 13:50:22 Hong Kong Time - PlayStation 2 - Sony PSP - PlayStation 3

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hong Kong, October 20th of 2006 - Lik-Sang.com, leading online retailer for videogame systems, games and cutting-edge gaming gear, was today informed that Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc have obtained a judgment in the High Court of London ruling PSP sales of the popular web store to the UK and the European Economic Area (EEA) unlawful.

The court hearing took place on October 9 at the High Court of London, without Lik-Sang's legal representatives attending or arguing at the hearing. It is unclear at this point if this ruling will also affect exports of PlayStation 3 and other PlayStation-branded items. Furthermore, Sony intends to obtain an UK injunction against Lik-Sang's sales to the EEA.

The legal battle with Sony over Lik-Sang's legitimate exporting activities started during August 2005. Sony complained about the sales of PSP (PlayStation Portable) systems to Europe and launched a lawsuit in the High Court of Hong Kong, arguing that Lik-Sang advertises the Sony products "in a dishonest manner" and "unlawfully interferes with Sony's economical interests". They further launched a completely separate lawsuit against the Hong Kong based company in the courts of England for selling PSP consoles to customers in Europe and the UK, and also for mirroring the freely available PSP user guides on their servers alleging copyright infringement.

Hong Kong's laws are clear when it comes to parallel trade, and the company has no ties whatsoever with the UK. While Lik-Sang vigorously contested the UK's jurisdiction over the allegations, the judge apparently found that UK law should also apply to Hong Kong exporters. Sony has also threatened Lik Sang recently to initiate yet another lawsuit to prevent the sales of PlayStation 3 consoles to Europe.

How this decision will affect Lik-Sang's business is not entirely known at this time. The retailer is currently exploring its legal options and analyzing the consequences of this ruling.

"Fighting multiple lawsuits in different countries at the same time and paying high premiums to expensive lawyers is an overwhelming situation for a small company like Lik Sang. Launching separate court actions with separate claims and different judges is completely unnecessary, except for the fact that it helps reaching one single target: outspend Lik-Sang to death. Pay beyond", said Pascal Clarysse, Marketing Manager of Lik-Sang.com, clearly annoyed by the unfair situation. "And contrary to their claim, I don't believe they are suffering 'losses and damages' through Lik-Sang's activity".
Get informed always when it happens using the Lik Sang Product Alert?. Just enter your email address below and you don't have to worry about knowing EVERYTHING of importance as one of the first persons.

http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3900

[Mr. Analog]

Well, as sad as this sounds I'm no longer going to buy / endorse any Sony products. This unfortunately includes Sony BMG (the label that carries Weird Al ). Theyve just gone too far this year with the crapflood of bad business behaviour and I really can't supprt them any longer.

Rot in hell, Sony.

P.S. I know boycotts don't really work and I will probably end up buying Sony compoenents unwittingly bundled into other hardware, but I don't care, end of Sony labelled stuff for this geek.

[Lazybones]

Or watching movies / television.. It can be very hard to completely avoid a company as large as Sony.

[Tonnica]

Lik-Sang actually had to close? Crap! That was a great site to order imported goods from.

Sony created the market for imported PS2s and PSPs themselves by charging what alert consumers saw as a questionably higher amount for the units in the UK. I'll see if I can dredge up the cost numbers later today.

If people can get it for a better price, they will.

[Mr. Analog]

Or watching movies / television.. It can be very hard to completely avoid a company as large as Sony.

Lists of Sony Films / Television:

Sony Pictures Television
Sony Pictures Entertainment
Sony Pictures Classic
Sony Pictures Studios
Sony Pictures Home Entertainment

Granted, it's a large list, but considering what I watch on TV is fairly limited and/or already owned on DVD I don't think I'll have much challenges changing to exclude the Sony from my life.

[Lazybones]

Hope you didn't plan on seeing Spider-Man 3

[Mr. Analog]

Hope you didn't plan on seeing Spider-Man 3

I know, I went through the list, I can live without it, or Ghost Rider or Punisher 2 or all the other great classic TV box sets. Sony and me are done with each other.

[Lazybones]

The best part has to be this:

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.

Sony even screws its self over.. Sony's own upper level management where making pre-orders through Lik-Sang.

[Mr. Analog]

The best part has to be this:

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.

Sony even screws its self over.. Sony's own upper level management where making pre-orders through Lik-Sang.

Man, they're already in trouble with the Japanese Trade Ministry for the whole battery fiasco. You can bet there will be some heads rolling at Sony HQ.

[Thorin]

Hope you didn't plan on seeing Spider-Man 3

I know, I went through the list, I can live without it, or Ghost Rider or Punisher 2 or all the other great classic TV box sets. Sony and me are done with each other.

See, you could download the movies when they come out on the intarwebb.  That way you won't be supporting Sony by providing them with any money, but you *will* get to enjoy some of their products.

I'd say there's a big difference between avoiding buying their hardware, and avoiding seeing their creative output.  For instance, what if someone else pays your ticket to go see Spiderman 3 in the theater?

[Tom]

I'm pretty sure I saw a Sony logo at the end of that last Robot Chicken episode.

[Mr. Analog]

I'm pretty sure I saw a Sony logo at the end of that last Robot Chicken episode.

That is correct, it is co-produced by:
Sony Pictures Digital Entertainment Inc.