LLik-Sang’s demise caused by multiple Sony lawsuits
Because of multiple lawsuits filed by Sony, Hong Kong gaming retailer Lik-Sang finally succumbed and bid the industry goodbye. As of today, Lik-Sang is no longer operational, following the ruling of the High Court of London regarding the retailer’s sale of PSP consoles. According to the decision, Lik-Sang’s act was unlawful as it infringed on Sony’s trademarks, copyright, and registered design rights by engaging in gray importation.
The main stand of Sony, through a spokesperson’s statement to Gamesindustry.biz recently, was that they ultimately had the customers’ best interests at heart. They claim that it would be to the disadvantage of the consumer if they were sold hardware that fails to conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards.
Lik-Sang, however, vehemently disagrees with Sony’s claims, citing that the PSP consoles that they ship contain genuine Sony 100V-240V AC Adapters, which carry CE and other safety marks, compatible worldwide. Furthermore, all the handhelds did actually conform with all EU and UK consumer safety regulations. Therefore, the necessity issue for consumer-protection raised by Sony was non-existent at best.
Lik-Sang also points out the irony that while Sony was berating them for supposedly infringing on their rights, they conveniently failed to disclose to the High Court of London that Sony Europe’s very own top directors allegedly received their PSP hard or software imports from Lik-Sang, starting just two days after it officially came out in Japan, complete with accompanying free Lik-Sang merchandise, like mugs or badge holders.
It’s understandable that Sony’s upset but running one of your best gateways to the western world hardly makes any sense. It’s not like they were selling illegal goods or something.
they were selling the best & the latest modchips the day they were released to all the overseas buyers. hehe. although this is not illegal, u cant blame sony.
Lik-Sang sells mod chips? It is illegal but that was never mentioned as being one of the causes of the lawsuits. The real issue as Sony claims was grey-marketing.
Waiting for the ps3