Lik-Sang.com Out of Business due to Multiple Sony Lawsuits
Tue Oct 24 2006 21:58:51 Hong Kong Time - Corporate Info

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."


I'm sorry but this proves that Sony = evil IMO... :rant:

I went on their site this afternoon to look for availability of a product recommended in the official Xbox 360 mag, and saw the above message... Damn you Sony! Damn you straight to the bowels of hell! :rant: :mad:

Thoughts anyone? And no, this thread is NOT trolling just to get a negative reaction from Sony zealots, it's a genuine thread regarding an issue I thought people would want to know about.

Well, it's business isn't it. Bulldozing your competitors down, and therefore keeping a bigger market share. It just means that there's less choice for the consumer, and prices will go up again ! Boo....

Rich, thats old news dude

look at the ad OCTOBER :P
weve already been there done that one slowcoach :P


edit: R added to mr Rich's name, soz rich :P

I was under the impression that Lik-sang had been importing games and consoles into Europe that were intended for the Japanese market. This puts them in violation of the contract of service that suppliers sign with Sony therefore Sony sued for breach of contract. Good for Sony thats what contracts are for you cant pick and choose which bits you wish to obey.

Pascal Clarysse! Wow. Good name, I don't know what this lik sang thing is but they have my support just because of him, her or it.

ich, thats old news dude

look at the ad OCTOBER :P
weve already been there done that one slowcoach :P

I didn't know about it in October, and it's Rich not ich, silly person! :rant:

It's still relevant, and still fuels my existing hatred of Sony so yeh.

How is it Sony's fault?

Lik Sang breached Sony's trademark rights and were found guilty in a court of law. End of.
They didn't even contest the case so didn't even incur any fees or damages.

How can Sony be described as 'evil' :rolleyes: for protecting its trademarks?

I didn't know about it in October, and it's Rich not ich, silly person! :rant:

It's still relevant, and still fuels my existing hatred of Sony so yeh.

And Microsoft have never done anything bad. Get a life Rich a stop all this moaning about Sony.

Rich,

They broke intellectual property law, and were bringing kit in to the EU that wasn't suited for this market.

It's not just power supplies that matter - it's EM compatability issues and similar things.

Basically they were trying to make a fast back at Sony's expense and they got screwed.

That's business - big boy's games payed to big boy's rules.

It's not Sony's fault, it's entirely their own. If they hadn't done anything wrong Sony wouldn't have been forced to sue them and they wouldn't have gone out of business.

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).
That's the hypocrisy.

I don't think rich is implying that Sony is at fault, cos obviously they've found the loophole, but rather from a consumer's buying perspective. Prices will rise again in the UK. Bad for the UK consumers cos big blue chips like Sony are controlling the gaming industry as it is, and very little room for other competitors to get in and therefore reduces the market pricing.

Bago,

The thing is that if Lik-sang were bringing kit in to the UK that wasn't CE compliant and didn't meet EU requirements, they were in the wrong.

And let's face it - are you seriously telling me that Sony's own people couldn't get hold of Sony products without going through a third party? that sounds odd.

There is no doubt dirty play in the games business - I guess it's inevitable - but companies like Sony, Microosft and Nintendo have cornered the games market for years. It's just taht they've made products that people wanted. Lik-sang were grey importers - they weren't competitors ruthlessly forced out of business by ruthless SOny - they were a trading company who made money through importing in to markets ahead of the company who actually made the kit.

Not surprised Sony were peeved. I'd have been furious.

here's a follow up article:
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=20564

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."

I wonder why they never bothered turning up? :rolleyes:

In all honesty 'Rich', you need to take a step back and realise how pathetic this anti-Sony crusade of yours is.

Grey importing is a risky business.
If they didn't want to get sued they shouldn't have signed a contract specifying that they would only supply the devices to the asian market.

I don't know the gaming industry very much to be honest, but judging from this thread and what it says, is that, the Lik Sang company were making products for the Asia market, but they imported it into the UK, and that got themselves a lawsuit ? So basically Sony is trying to protect its investment in different regional market ?

If there is a compliane issue, then why did the company said this ?
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.

So basically Sony is trying to protect its investment in different regional market ?


Pretty much, and they have the legal right to do so.


whether they SHOULD have that legal right is a whole other matter. I am very much of the opinion (illegal-in-some-countries items excepted, of course) that, once something is on sale somewhere in the world, any person or company should be able to buy it there and go sell it someplace else, whether the original company is happy about it or not; but the law doesn't agree with me.

In other words if Liksang were buying Sony stuff in Japan, ferrying it to Europe and selling it on, and still undercutting Sony's own prices, they should be allowed to do so. Unfortunately, they aren't, they were legally in the wrong, and their bankruptcy is entirely their own fault.

Oh Rich, Rich, Rich, a corporation can't be evil, as that's a human trait linked to emotions and intent. A corporation is only a legal entity. Once again you're getting very confused aren't you? Do you think a lie down in a dark room for a bit (say 15 years) might help you?

Oh Rich, Rich, Rich, a corporation can't be evil, as that's a human trait linked to emotions and intent. A corporation is only a legal entity. Once again you're getting very confused aren't you? Do you think a lie down in a dark room for a bit (say 15 years) might help you?

Keep it on topic, please, and don't take this thread personal.

Thanks.

MOD: Someone made it personal and now has a short pre-Christmas break.

If there is a compliane issue, then why did the company said this ?

It wasn't a compliance issue; that was such BS to cover the fact that the same product is more expensive in one country than it is in another.

The funny thing is that Sony is still making a profit. After all, all PSPs come from Sony anyway.

Besides, who are Sony to take on the role of "protecting" the consumers. If I buy a product from another country for half the price that it is in my country and it blows up my house, that is no one's fault but my own and I accept that. I don't need Sony watching my back. :hihi:

Oh Rich, Rich, Rich, a corporation can't be evil, as that's a human trait linked to emotions and intent. A corporation is only a legal entity. Once again you're getting very confused aren't you? Do you think a lie down in a dark room for a bit (say 15 years) might help you?
There's a line of thought that if a corporation was viewed as a human in behavioural terms, then it would be considered a psycopath. And even if a corporation merely is a legal entity, it's behaviour is determined and controlled by humans.

http://www.thecorporation.com/

It wasn't a compliance issue; that was such BS to cover the fact that the same product is more expensive in one country than it is in another.

Like I said .. they have a legal right to do that, and to sue anyone who breaches a contract agreeing to distribute under those terms.