Author Topic: Lik Sang (Read 2251 times)

Digi.k · « **on:** October 24, 2006, 04:34:52 AM »

I have used this company a few times in the past (and even though they may seem expensive I still thought they were good) and wanted to do business with them sometime in the future but this news was just unexpected and shocked me..

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."

you can read it from the link at their own website:

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

esteban · « **Reply #1 on:** October 24, 2006, 04:59:50 AM »

No way. I can and can't believe it.

akamichi · « **Reply #2 on:** October 24, 2006, 05:27:05 AM »

That totally sucks! I was just browsing their site over the weekend looking to order some stuff too!

Hopefully they'll open up a new business and not have any Sony crap for sale.

Screw Sony.

FM-77 · « **Reply #3 on:** October 24, 2006, 05:31:34 AM »

I've never liked Lik-sang, so I don't mind at all. Actually, it makes me a bit happy, as I was annoyed by the whole Lik-sang-craze.

I don't see why an overpriced Donkey Kong plush or some Japanese strategy game for PS2 would be interesting anyway. Good riddance, I say.

Also: I can't believe people are blaming Sony for this! Lik-sang is to blame, as they illegally sold various products. Any resonably large company in that position would do the same to shut them down. I'm sure Nintendo and Microsoft are just as happy about this as Sony is.

radiantgun · « **Reply #4 on:** October 24, 2006, 06:38:38 AM »

SONY !!!! Feck them now !!!! It better not be Play Asia next !!!!

GUTS · « **Reply #5 on:** October 24, 2006, 07:29:45 AM »

Yeah lets all rejoice that a great place to import games and accessories is being shut down, great point Seldane. Sony is the f*cking devil, they're just trying to take everybody they can down with them since their video game division is on it's last legs. Do people even buy PSP stuff anymore?

Digi.k · « **Reply #6 on:** October 24, 2006, 08:13:21 AM »

I was hoping to import some DS japan only games from lik sang... oh wells..

Sony has also responded about the closure of lik sang too:

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=20564

Black Tiger · « **Reply #7 on:** October 24, 2006, 10:36:09 AM »

I like how Sony Europe sued them over importing PSP systems, but a bunch of Sony Europe execs were Lik Sang customers who'd ordered PSPs from them.

And it wasn't just for 'evidence', they didn't need any.

Quote

Also: I can't believe people are blaming Sony for this! Lik-sang is to blame, as they illegally sold various products. Any resonably large company in that position would do the same to shut them down. I'm sure Nintendo and Microsoft are just as happy about this as Sony is.

Nintendo and Microsoft do everything illegal they can get away with, although they've been caught several times, but I wouldn't be happy if they got shut down.

Whether you like Lik-Sang or not, this sets a very dangerous precedent. We may be a few steps away from a ban on foreign electronics in general, which would include classic game systems.

rolins · « **Reply #8 on:** October 24, 2006, 01:03:30 PM »

Darn and I was thinking about purchasing a GP2X during x-mas. They had great price for it too.

Bonknuts · « **Reply #9 on:** October 24, 2006, 02:03:25 PM »

The European division of Sony!? WTF?

Not only do the European gamers get screwed by their European counterparts (Sony, Nintendo, Sega, etc), but now the rippling effects of their long schlong policy is extending to posteriors around the globe.

*shakes fist at the European division*

neokellyzero · « **Reply #10 on:** October 24, 2006, 03:39:51 PM »

Screw Sony-
Screw PS3-
Screw a company that "discourages 2-d gaming" on every level-
Screw any company that operates like a terrorist-
Screw Sony because they helped oust Sega of the console Market-
Screw Nintendo because they were in bed with Sony once-
Screw Sony because they're party of the evil trinity-(walmart,sony,nike)

I didn't plan on buying a 360 or Wii, but I may buy both just to do my part in making Sony's numbers worse- I doubt they'll need any help doing the shit they do though-

Keranu · « **Reply #11 on:** October 24, 2006, 04:20:55 PM »

Screw Sony.

I never had a problem with Lik Sang except the slow shipping, but they have some decent prices and some neat stuff to offer. And unlike other non-American online shops, they actually sold American Turbo products and for quite cheap too (I paid like $5 for a new Turbo Express AC adapter once, other sites typically charge $20 new). So yeah, I'm a bit sad to see them go.

nodtveidt · « **Reply #12 on:** October 24, 2006, 04:53:59 PM »

They won't stay down long. Just like Victor Ireland came back, so will Lik-Sang in one form or another. I'm not gonna get into the whole "Screw Sony!" thing, because I hold loyalty to no one, but I do think it's rather ridiculous for them to be pulling this kind of shit. Did Lik-Sang not buy Sony's machines? It's not like they fabricated them themselves in a non-Sony factory or anything like that...I don't understand what the big deal is here.

But about the "helped oust Sega from the console market"...Sega had it coming with their retarded policies. They did it to themselves, as NEC had done years earlier.

grahf · « **Reply #13 on:** October 24, 2006, 04:54:52 PM »

I've been buying things from lik-sang since they first opened, when they used to stock more vcd players than video games. Ive ordered a bunch of DS games from them over the last year, and its a pity this had to happen. Especially since they really werent doing anything illegal. I guess sony doesnt like it when someone gets in the way of them raping europe on prices.

neokellyzero · « **Reply #14 on:** October 24, 2006, 05:05:16 PM »

Nod- you're right, Sony played only a small part in sega's demise- Sega kind of screwed themselves with the 32x to saturn to dreamcast transition(among other things, many thing too long to list)- but I'm being jaded here as I hate Sony-

I wouldn't say that I have loyalty to any company, but I do have a disdain for Sony and their tactics-

Sony Will Fail- Someday-

Look at Beta.
Look at Minidisc.
Look at UMD.
Look at Blueray- not yet, but give it a year or so-

Author Topic: Lik Sang (Read 2251 times)

GUTS

nodtveidt