Lik-sang.com Closes Down

[EvilDragon]

Thanks to a company we all love, Lik-Sang.com has to close down.

Here's the official statement:

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."

Well, that's one more reason for me to NOT buy any future Sony stuff. No PS3 for me.
I wanted to buy it when good RPGs have been released, but Sony finally pissed me off.
I hope a lot more people react that way.

 

[DTH]

Thats a real pitty

 

[krosfyah]

Fucking Sony. :angry:

 

[Nova]

Thanks to a company we all love, Lik-Sang.com has to close down.

Here's the official statement:

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."

Well, that's one more reason for me to NOT buy any future Sony stuff. No PS3 for me.
I wanted to buy it when good RPGs have been released, but Sony finally pissed me off.
I hope a lot more people react that way.

I pity our legal system...

 

[gnyffel]

1. I will not buy anything from Sony now. Ever.

2. What if my GP2X dies now? My warranty, damnit! This has nothing to do with Sony! :S

 

[YakumoFuji]

aii gnyffel same boat here. got mine on liksang closeout (i guess it was their closeout sale!)

 

[EvilDragon]

aii gnyffel same boat here. got mine on liksang closeout (i guess it was their closeout sale!)

It wasn't. The force to close down was pretty fast.

Don't worry about your gp2x.
The ones who bought from gp32z.com have their warranty handled by GPH, I guess it's the same here.
If not, I'll help where I can for just the shipping costs.

 

[Tobriand]

Bugger. Sony are real wankers sometimes. The real pity, of course, being that the majority of people won't even realise they've been screwed over.

Was tempted to get a PSP sooner or later. Think I'll wait for some other machine to come along for sure now...

 

[Mr_Munk]

and yet 'pre-order' PS3's have been OK'd by Ebay :rolleyes:

It strikes me that Sony are being a bit short sighted here by pissing off the more hardcore gamers who use import services etc...

 

[daclassicgamingmaster]

wow, what a shame. At least we still have play-asia. I rarely purchased from lik sang anymore anyway due to slightly higher prices than I would have liked.


What can you do? Now, the only hope that remains for me to get a ps3 at launch is to scheme with mall security to be the first person inside lol

 

[neokellyzero]

Is anyone really suprised by sony's actions here? What do you expect from one of the unholy trinity: Walmart, Sony, and Nike-

 

[Skies]

I bought a gp2x off lik-sang over a week ago and have been having hassle with them ever since over address authorisation. Something I have never had from any other company over internet purchases in over 6 years of buying online. Everything from plane tickets, F1 tickets, CDs, DVDs, clothes without a problem.

Now they have taken £100 off me and refused to send me my stuff. By the time they did accept I was who I said I was they were suddely out of stock.

I am just hoping that they will refund my money.

They have told me that one of their staff will get in touch with ASAP. But how long that will take I have no idea.

 

[Vimacs]

Wow, good way to ruin any reputation you had left sony!
But i dont udnerstand how a uk curt can order a asian comopany to shut down?

 

[Intruder]

RIP Lik-Sang

Its because of them that I got into the GP32 scene in the first place, as they were one of the biggest online retailer to start selling the obscure corean handheld from GamePark.

I even got the gp32 coffee mug from them 8-(.

And recently for my birthday gift I ordered my GP2X, I would have never suspect they will be shut down by Sony that I own a PS2 and was looking forward next year to maybe get a PS3 (once the crazyness settle down).

But now? I am really piss off at Sony, I dont see this as a big problem that some people sell stuff to other countries. I know Nintendo sued them before for those cart thing which I can understand is a bit more gray area since it not only allowed people to do homebrew but also play illegal copies. Lik-Sang complied with that and really stop to sell those cart thing. Now Lik-Sang were only selling legits stuff afaik!

Attacking Lik-Sang to the throat is very wrong, of course it will give example to other small companies, but surely will piss off hardcore gamers who usually are the crazy people fanboy that help sell your console. This news will spread fast and surely make Sony to even get more people with their expansive PS3.

this news alreayd hit Kotaka, it wont take long before it reach joystiq, engadget, etc... I have a feeling this will backfire in Sony face badly (I hope so, so that they learn the hard way of what their stupid action do).

Thanks sony to have make me happy this morning in my vacantion.

Someone should take the PS3 out of their hand and give to a more gentler, kinder person, I am interested in the technologies but not in their corporate overlord asshole 8-(. Why why?

Fred really upset!

 

[Jarska333]

and yet 'pre-order' PS3's have been OK'd by Ebay :rolleyes:

It strikes me that Sony are being a bit short sighted here by pissing off the more hardcore gamers who use import services etc...

Yah, 99% or so of people, who buy PSP or PS3, will buy them from their local gameshop, or other "official" source... They weren't hurting Sony, and were still selling their stuff, making profit for them.

What bugs me, is that some idiot judge in bloody England ruins it for the rest of Europe, too.

But, I quess it was the piling legal fees that took them down...

Oh, if anyone hears of any sort of boycotts, petitions, (sign your name here to tell Sony they are assholes), or something..

 

[sensible GP32]

sony are going to die.

 

[Intruder]

Yah watch out folks, I am sure Play-Asia is next on their todo list.

From what I can see it is about the same size of Lik-Sang and they are also selling Sony crap over there. they probably started with Lik-Sang as it is the most big and well known importer. Once they get this one they know it will send a very clear message to the other : Stop to sell or prepare to DIE!

As for an uk court order, I think from what Ive read they are getting lawsuit in different country which will basically restrict them to sell anywhere, well Sony stuff. And also even if you arent in the country you are being sued I guess you should still respond to those, they are more and more internation law thing especially with WTO stuff around.

Oh well

 

[PokeParadox]

Wow, good way to ruin any reputation you had left sony!
But i dont udnerstand how a uk curt can order a asian comopany to shut down?

There was no order for LikSang to shut down... All the cost from the multiples cases filed against LikSang is what has pushed them into shutting down. Yeah, they've pissed me off again also.

 

[Intruder]

Cool this news is getting momentum!

Now 1UP have the news also,

Sony get prepare to be blasted by hundred thousndad of angry hardcore gamers, beware some of them as nasty and have teeth.

Ahhhhh now you will feel the real pains of going directly against your core.

Should we open some bet now? Hehehe maybe a pool on how long Sony will continue with this bad reputation?

Fred

 

[Skies]

As for an uk court order, I think from what Ive read they are getting lawsuit in different country which will basically restrict them to sell anywhere, well Sony stuff. And also even if you arent in the country you are being sued I guess you should still respond to those, they are more and more internation law thing especially with WTO stuff around.

Oh well

The UK judge has set a precedent. And it sounds like they have chosen to get out with just their fingers burnt rather than risk the other comapnies and software houses doing the same.