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."

so sony is making their games region free. only that one region cannot sell their region games to other region.

so whats the region free is for again?

i tout the lawsuit in on the console and not the games ? I think at this rate, only way to get import games is through ebay ... unless Sony shut that down too !

Poor european, filthy rich but always few months behind. Now no way they gonna get gaming stuff earlier by importing.

"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 smell something fishy here

Sony says it's just another case of "sour grapes"

In the continuing saga of David and Goliath, Sony is denying any responsibility for the closure of Hong Kong-based e-tailer Lik-Sang.

Sony issued a statement to GamesIndustry.biz confirming its successful legal action against Lik-Sang, but denies that it had any direct effect on the website shutdown.

"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."

Sony also responded to the Lik-Sang's claim that SCEE employees, which were named in Lik-Sang's shutdown notice, participated in importing Japanese PSPs into Europe well before they were available in the territory.

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."

The saga began last week when the UK High Court ruled that Lik-Sang's importation of Japanese PSPs to the UK and European Economic Area as illegal. The ruling could potentially set a precedent that would apply to all parties involved in importing a PlayStation 3 to Europe.

This is more of the case of Sony trying to further extend its monopolistic powers on traders who are seemingly 'by passing' the 'normal channels of trade'.

Lik Sang is one entity Sony has been trying HARD to pull down. By citing reasons that the consignments sold by Lik Sang are "do not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards, due to voltage supply differences" is crappy.

Because Lik Sang sells products at a lower price, thats how some markets -  that don't get immediate/simultaneaus release of Sony's products (PSP) in this case - can get it fast.

So by shutting it down, Sony is further depriving EU markets of ever having the option to import items/software from Lik Sang forcing them to rely on other online methods; being Play-Asia and EBay.