Lik-Sang out of business due to Sony

[mwgiii]

Lik-Sang is one of the major websites where you can import games/systems/accessories from other countries. I have ordered from them several times.

This only leaves http://www.play-asia.com/ and http://www.ncsxshop.com/ as respected shops to import games not released in the US.


Important 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."

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

 

[jakesnake3037]

I just got an email from them about it! I was really looking forward to getting my Playstation 3 for an early Christmas present!! Oh well, stuff happens! This is the email I got:


Dear valued customer,

unfortunately, Lik Sang is forced to close its virtual doors for good. This
comes as a consequence of the several legal actions brought on us by Sony.
For more information on the situation, please point your browser to the
following link:

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

Therefore, as soon as humanly possible, we will cancel all existing orders,
including yours, and issue refunds where necessary.

Please note that it may take anywhere from a few days up to a week or two
for refunds to be processed by PayPal, your bank or your credit card
company, so please don't worry if you don't see it immediately on your
balance statement. You can rest assured that Lik-Sang is monitoring the
situation closely with all involved parties. No single customer will be
caught in the crossfire of this ordeal.

We are sorry to have to go, and we wish to thank you sincerely your support
over the past decade.

Warm regards and a big THANK YOU from the entire Hong Kong crew.

Team Lik-Sang

 

[T2k]

This is sad, indeed - thanks to Sony.
You're really a slimy PoS, Sony - just gave me and thousands of others another reason not to buy *anything from you.

 

[hpman247]

There is nothing wrong with Lik-Sang. I have never ordered from them before and it makes Sony look like a big bully. I'm sad for all those who used this site, who trusted them, which is the most important, and who relied on them for games.

 

[mwgiii]

So much for anyone in Europe importing a PS3 early.


Coming off the heels of a British court victory against importer Lik-Sang forbidding PSP imports, Sony has said it will use the "full scope of the law" to prevent Europeans from importing PlayStation 3s from North America and Japan, according to a BBC report.

Since the European release of the PS3 has been pushed back from November to next Spring, demand for the already rare console is even more out of control.

"The law is clear, and grey importing PS2, PSP or PS3 into the EU, without the express permission of SCEE is illegal," said a Sony rep to the BBC. "Therefore, we will utilize the full scope of the law to put a stop to any retailers who chose to do this."

The rep also stressed that US or Japanese PS3s wouldn't be backwards compatible with European PS2 and PS1 titles, wouldn't play European movies, and most definitely would not be covered under warranty.

"Ultimately, we're trying to protect consumers from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards," the rep said.

Source: http://www.gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/C352D5E1-FDD6-411C-B532-64EAFAF563AA.htm

 

[mikley28]

Look!! A new job!!! PS3 Smuggler.

I do vaguely remember telling Mr. Sony that each console is for a specific market but he tried saying that its the same machine. Obviously it is not if Sony is going as far as shutting down Lik-Sang.