Sony scoffs at super sales and sues to stifle... I give up. Sorry.
Seriously, though, have a read of the following and see if you can tell me exactly what Sony are up to, because a company complaining about their goods being sold is what we commonly refer to as Really Damned Stupid™
Hong Kong, August 8, 2005 - Lik-Sang.com, leading online retailer for videogame systems, games and cutting-edge gaming gear, was today informed that Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc commenced legal actions against Lik-Sang.com in the High Court of Hong Kong for selling PSP consoles.
Sony of Europe alleges that Lik-Sang.com has breached Sony's Trade Mark rights by offering the PlayStation Portable (PSP) for sale to customers in the UK, and seeks a court order that would prevent Lik-Sang.com from selling or offering systems, games and accessories to customers in the UK and the European Economic Area (EEA).
Sony further claims copyright infringement and damages by mirroring the freely available PSP manual on the news section of Lik-Sang.com during early June. Sony UK warned Lik-Sang.com at June 14 to take legal actions, should the manual and any hypertext links to Sony's web site not be removed. Lik-Sang.com complied with Sony's request to remove the manual immediately.
This lawsuit comes as a total surprise to Lik-Sang.com, given that the laws of Hong Kong are clear when it comes to parallel trade. Hong Kong's legislation is based on the fact that allowing parallel and free trade will restore natural competition and benefit consumers with lower prices. Hong Kong, one of the pioneering countries respecting worldwide exhaustion of trademark rights, allows free trade once an item entered the market for sale.
The company running Lik-Sang.com, Pacific Game Technology (Holding) Limited, is fully registered and operating in Hong Kong and has no ties with the UK. The company is currently looking into available options to combat Sony's cynical attempt to disrupt the successful online business again, gain total market control, and garner publicity.
"Lik-Sang's sales are an unlawful interference with Sony's economic interests", stated Sony's legal correspondence. The case relies on Sony's claim, that Lik-Sang.com has advertised the PlayStation Portable products in a "dishonest manner". Lik-Sang.com will do its best to fight Sony's powers and appreciates any support from employees, friends and even customers.
"This is the most aggressive move against its own customers that a console manufacturer has ever taken in the 30 year history of videogames", says Pascal Clarysse, Marketing Manager for Lik-Sang.com. "Sony wants to completely cut hardcore gamers away from items released in Japan or anywhere else outside their own country. A very active part of the gaming community has been enjoying Japanese gaming culture for over two decades, and that's what the Empire is now willing to destroy."
Fortunately, the day-to-day business of Lik-sang has not been interrupted, so us hardcore gamers and gadget lovers can still import all things good from Japan before they even come within a thousand miles of the British coast.
Lik-Sang will update their news section as soon as the situation evolves, so if you're at all interested keep a close eye on their site. I don't know about you, but I'm siding with the relatively small-time, friendly trade business (Lik-sang, of course) and frowning at Sony. Oh, and hear this Sony old chum- I'm (gasp) buying my PSP when I go to Canada, IF I buy one at all, and there's not a god damned thing you can do about it. Both of my best mates imported, one from Japan, one bought in Canada, neither bought at Lik-sang. A sale is a sale, seriously, do you really want everyone in the UK to wait before trying out the console they have been speculating about for several years now?
I'm clueless as to what Sony are up to, I don't even have any idle speculation. The one thought that comes to my mind is: "Oh, they've gone completely bonkers!" If anyone has any speculation feel free to post below or drop us an email at staff@gamingheadlines.co.uk
In my opinion they should either release things across the globe simultanously, or get back up on their high horse and stop slapping around the common-folk.
Philip Howard
