Lik-Sang out of business: Sony is to blame

[Cube]

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

Lik-Sang, a famous importing company, have been massively sued by Sony for importing the PSP to Europe, and planning to import the PS3 there, too.

On top of this, Sony have threatened everyone about importing the PS3 to Europe.

Because of the lawsuit, Lik-Sang have been forced to close down.


One thing I don't get...Why did Sony sell their products to an import company in the first place?

 

[Warbie]

ffs :/

I've been using lik-sang for years, they were a great company.

 

[Raziaar]

Never heard of them... but it still sucks. One more reason I hope Sony's PS3 fails miserably, and they lose millions and millions, and potentially a billion dollars on it.

That would make my world go round.

 

[Xune]

Watching Sony's handling of the PS3 is like watching someone shoot themself in the foot, with a tommygun.

I can understand that they don't want the effect of their launch being diluted by units going outside the launch regions, but in the end a sale is a sale.

VG cats has got it pretty much nailed down anyway.

 

[Warbie]

This could be a sign of things to come. Play asia, VG+, who next? Why stop the small % of keen gamers who import getting the games and hardware they want?

 

[StardogChampion]

I don't get why they have to close down the entire business though.

 

[mortiz]

Screw Sony. The PS3 will fail.

 

[VictimOfScience]

Holy f*ck that is bad news!!! I am terribly upset with Sony for being such a bunch of mother-grabbing bastards about this. I loved Lik-Sang--they were one of the best places to get hard-to-find games/accessories for those of us in the US. I just ordered with them like a month ago!! This definitely leaves a horrible taste in my mouth for Sony. I don't believe it had anything to do with safety standards.

 

[-Psy-]

**** Sony.

 

[Cormeh]

Ridiculous.

 

[B-MAn]

Thank god for eBay.

 

[PvtRyan]

I am so hoping the PS3 will fail miserably. Sony pricks.

 

[Griz]

*waits for the Sony fanboys to come in and start defending Sony*

 

[Warbie]

To be fair, other companies have tried something similar. Nintendo weren't happy with quite a few importers and kicked up a fuss. I've never seen such a popuar company be taken apart like this though.

 

[hungryduck]

sony (satan) strikes again.

 

[Hypnosos]

Wow, that sucks.

 

[ríomhaire]

*waits for the Sony fanboys to come in and start defending Sony*

I don't think there are any on this site...

 

[CyberPitz]

The "**** company" bandwagon has started....

And I like sony..what, am I a bad man to enjoy Sonys products/games?

 

[Ridge]

Never heard of them... but it still sucks. One more reason I hope Sony's PS3 fails miserably, and they lose millions and millions, and potentially a billion dollars on it.

That would make my world go round.

QFT

 

[Ren.182]

I don't get why they have to close down the entire business though.

Sony didn't like that they imported PSP's into Europe. So they sued Lik-Sang from each European country. Would have cost Lik-Sang loads in solicitor fee's from every country etc. I think they lost in every country too, so they had to pay Sony each time. Sony basically bled Lik-Sang dry.

Shame. They were a great company.

 

[VictimOfScience]

Sony is deying it now...

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."

Source.

 

[X-FacToR]

that is bs

 

[dlandis72]

wow...sony just feels dirty these days. They have really deterred me from giving them any of my business. If the comments on forums are any indication of the general public attitude, sony is in big trouble...and I'm glad! It's time for something new and sony just doesn't have enough imagination to take the industry in the direction that it needs to go.

 

[AiM]

*waits for the Sony fanboys to come in and start defending Sony*

You know, people use these terms in almost every HL2.net PS3 topic yet I don't think I've seen a true PS3 fanboy here in a long time. About the only ones left are just fans (not fanboys) who enjoy the games. I don't recall seeing anything along the lines of "lol I hope MS fails! LOL THEY SUCK! They should lose billions cause they're SONY!" etc etc) If anything, there's an absurd anti-Sony bias just for the sake of following the crowd... (bandwagon anyone?)

Back on topic, I've never used Lik-Sang but from what I heard, they sounded like a great company. If I'm not mistaken, they were issued numerous cease and desist letters but they never complied. It sucks for the consumer here but I guess Sony had the legal rights to shut them down. :|

 

[-Psy-]

It's like they don't want people to buy their console

 

[Kyorisu]

I don't think there are any on this site...

Hi.

I'm sad too I got all my PSP stuff through them ;( They had it coming though it would have been very easy to simply not export to European countries, they refused to listen to Sony.

 

[Dynasty]

Baha suck it Sony. PS3 will sell, no doubt in my mind, but i hope it sells pathetically and the owner has a hernia as he realises he screwed himself over.

Lik-Sang was AWESOME. Had my PSP and 2 games delivered from that place. Got to me from half way around the world in about 5 days. Free stickers and free lanyard. Ace company. **** Sony.

 

[ríomhaire]

Hi.

Oh yay, a fanboy *sharpens spear*

I'm sad too I got all my PSP stuff through them ;( They had it coming though it would have been very easy to simply not export to European countries, they refused to listen to Sony.

Refused to listen to Sony? Sony sold them the PSPs, if you sell an export company something that isn't available in Europe yet what will happen? They know exactly what would happen and they're assholes for setting it up.

/biased opinion.

Let the flame wars begin.

 

[Asknoone]

Pathetic.

 

[Asus]

Just from what I have read it seems they can do this because of IP (intellectual property). And it has to do with IP because Sony has not begun selling those items there. If they had then they couldn't do anything. But they are exercising their right I guess. And it leaves a bad taste in my mouth. :x

 

[bliink]

Sony caught buying the 'illegal grey market goods' from lik sang: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6083856.stm

Lik-Sang ceased trading on Monday following legal action from Sony.

Announcing its closure, it named Sony executives it said had used its service to get the PSPs before they went on official release in Europe.

Sony does not deny that staff bought the game gadgets from Lik-Sang but said it was done to check the nature of the goods that were being sold.

 

[Jintor]

Big Corperations (man, I thought I'd never use those words) are getting way too burly these days. But with all the stuff they do, is there anything I can do to stop them?

 

[-Psy-]

Does anybody support what Sony are doing with the PS3 and all this business crap?

 

[Asus]

People who don't want others to buy imports? Who are they?

 

[Reaktor4]

And I like sony..what, am I a bad man to enjoy Sonys products/games?

No but theyre still сunts.