Sony puts major Asian video game retailer out of Business.

Not really a Next Gen topic but here is an article regarding the lawsuit agaisn't a major Asian retailer. This proves Sony means business when they sued anyone for their gadgets.

http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=20561

Lik-Sang goes out of business
Ellie Gibson 16:09 24/10/2006

Retailer lists names of Sony execs who allegedly bought PSPs

Online retailer Lik-Sang has announced that it has gone out of business following a series of lawsuits filed by Sony - and has named SCEE executives who Lik-Sang allege bought PSP hardware and software from the company.

A statement published on the retailer's website and circulated to media outlets alleges: "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" from Lik-Sang.

The statement also claims that the orders began arriving "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 statement then lists the names of senior Sony figures who Lik-Sang allege bought PSP-related products.

Lik-Sang claims it has been forced to shut down after Sony won a series of legal victories against the company. Sony argued that Lik-Sang had infringed copyright and trademark laws by selling Japanese PSPs to European consumers.

Last week, a Sony spokesperson told GamesIndustry.biz that the company is determined "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".

But Lik-Sang "strongly disagrees with Sony's opinion that their customers need this kind of protection", claiming 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".

According to the statement, "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 statement goes on to pledge that, "The staff of Lik-Sang will make sure that nobody will get hurt in the crossfire of this ordeal."

Lik-Sang marketing manager Pascal Clarysse went on to blast Sony for its actions, stating, "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.

"Blame it on Sony. That's the latest dark spot in their shameful track record as gaming industry leader," he continued.

"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... It’s the beginning of the end of the world as we know it."

This could really not set well with other major video game retailers around the world.

Yet another anti-PS3 spam article, Wrathful Dwarf? 😛

Come on now, don't you have better things to do?

Anyway, they were legally within their rights to sue the retailers.

It's THEIR product that is being sold via the retailers to consumers. If the product violates EU consumer safety laws, than it's not the retailers' ass whose on the line. It's Sony's.

If I were to sell a product that was only meant to be sold for a certain country in order to adhere to SPECIFIC product laws for that country, than I would be within my rights to sue a retailer who violates and infringes these aftermentioned laws. It would be my ass on the line, if the product sold in a country infringes the consumer safety laws specific to that country.

Sony did the right thing. They could haved had a host of lawsuits and not to mention anti-trust charges brought against them for these PSPs sold in EU.

Uhhh...nowhere in my post does it mention the PS3. So I'm assuming you're kidding there...

Come on Draco, don't YOU have better things to do than to make excuses for an electronic gadget corporation that doesn't care about you only your money?

If Sony is indeed completely right to make a lawsuit. Then by all means MS has every right to give Sony a HUUUUGE slap on the face with a lawsuit for this little ad:

http://www.killermovies.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=7621272&highlight=userid%3A14101#post7621272

That is utter crap. Lik-Sang was a good retailer company, and they knew what they were doing. They even stated exactly which power adapters shipped with the Japanese PSPs and knew they were world-wide safety compliant.

Good job Sony. What, did you get sick of people making money by selling your PSPs? Why should Sony care if people in Europe are playing PSPs meant for Japan? They're all made in the same place, anyway.

Originally posted by WrathfulDwarf
Uhhh...nowhere in my post does it mention the PS3. So I'm assuming you're kidding there...

PS3. Sony. It's kind synonymous nowadays on the gaming forum...

What? You're denying you don't repeatedly spam the forums with "OMGOZ! SONYZ IZ EVIL!" articles that shed some sort of negative view upon them?

😬

Originally posted by WrathfulDwarf
Come on Draco, don't YOU have better things to do than to make excuses for an electronic gadget corporation that doesn't care about you only your money?

A) First off, welcome to capitalism. Maybe in some far off fantasy world of yours, firms and corporations actually have kindness and compassion for the wants of consumers and go out of their way to make all the little children in the world happy, but that's not reality.

ALL firms care for nothing except profits. ANY action is an action towards profit. ANY other action that does not yield short-term profit is either an investment for long-term profit or an investment towards capital, protection against costs or finance networking.

Nintendo does it. Microsoft does it. And yes, Sony does it.

Good luck finding a firm that DOESN'T "doesn't care about only your money."

B) It's not an excuse. It's a factual, logical understanding of the article and primarily the issue of article. Unfortunately, you clearly didn't understand it or you didn't WANT to understand it. You only saw or meant for us to see "OMGOZ! SONYZ PUT SOMEONE OUTTA BUSINESS! EVILZ!" Which didn't work with me, because I actually have some knowledge about how business and particularly the lawsuit in question works.

If you had ANY understanding of the article, you would side with Sony because they were doing the right thing to...I don't know...OBEY THE LAW.

🙄

What? You wanted them to disobey the law?

Originally posted by WrathfulDwarf
If Sony is indeed completely right to make a lawsuit. Then by all means MS has every right to give Sony a HUUUUGE slap on the face with a lawsuit for this little ad:

http://www.killermovies.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=7621272&highlight=userid%3A14101#post7621272

Have you ever watched a Pepsi commercial? You know the ones that say "we're better than Coke." Or any OTHER brand that says "we're better than the leading brand."

Do they get sued? Do they have the right to sue? Nope.

There goes that arguement.

😆

Is there ANYTHING slanderous or insulting about the price comparision sheet? Anything at all? NOPE. Is there anything that is a lie about the other products? NOPE. Is there ANYTHING that was on the FACT sheet that wasn't...well...a FACT?

Nope.

Honey, you act like this is the first time a corporation has posted a comparision sheet between their product and the other competing products. And it's neither illegal nor against the law.

Come on now....

Originally posted by General Kaliero
That is utter crap. Lik-Sang was a good retailer company, and they knew what they were doing. They even stated exactly which power adapters shipped with the Japanese PSPs and knew they were world-wide safety compliant.

Good job Sony. What, did you get sick of people making money by selling your PSPs? Why should Sony care if people in Europe are playing PSPs meant for Japan? They're all made in the same place, anyway.

Because it violates the consumer safety laws instilled by...I don't know...the friggin EU Commission of Economic Affairs?

Sony didn't make the laws.

THINK PEOPLE! Why in HELL would a company PURPOSEFULLY sue a company that's making a PROFIT on THEIR goods for THEIR benefit?

Is it because they're evil or they're just plain mean, like some stupid, ignorant people think?

NO. It's because it's against the law and violates the law to an extent that the government would impose substantial financial loss upon Sony itself.

Swear to god...

"Yup! Sony put the place outta business because they're mean and evil! Even though it was making a profit for them...."

🙄

Pepsi and Coke are the same company and im not joking.

Originally posted by El_NINO
Pepsi and Coke are the same company and im not joking.

Did they finally merge? They're the most prominent substitute goods in America. Competing against each other in market-driven economy is futile.

Merging together would certainly cut down costs and boost their capital.

It's not even like Sony stuff was all they sold...but only one company has a problem with it. Hmmm.

Originally posted by Draco69
PS3. Sony. It's kind synonymous nowadays on the gaming forum...

What? You're denying you don't repeatedly spam the forums with "OMGOZ! SONYZ IZ EVIL!" articles that shed some sort of negative view upon them?

😬

Really? PS3 and Sony mean the same...boy, are you clueless. So if I say PSP is the same as Sony...that's correct? No, for one....the PS3 and PSP are the products. Sony is the corporation that makes them. What's next? Windows means Xbox? Hahaha!

Originally posted by Draco69

A) First off, welcome to capitalism. Maybe in some far off fantasy world of yours, firms and corporations actually have kindness and compassion for the wants of consumers and go out of their way to make all the little children in the world happy, but that's not reality.

ALL firms care for nothing except profits. ANY action is an action towards profit. ANY other action that does not yield short-term profit is either an investment for long-term profit or an investment towards capital, protection against costs or finance networking.

Nintendo does it. Microsoft does it. And yes, Sony does it.

Good luck finding a firm that DOESN'T "doesn't care about only your money."

B) It's not an excuse. It's a factual, logical understanding of the article and primarily the issue of article. Unfortunately, you clearly didn't understand it or you didn't WANT to understand it. You only saw or meant for us to see "OMGOZ! SONYZ PUT SOMEONE OUTTA BUSINESS! EVILZ!" Which didn't work with me, because I actually have some knowledge about how business and particularly the lawsuit in question works.

If you had ANY understanding of the article, you would side with Sony because they were doing the right thing to...I don't know...OBEY THE LAW.

🙄

What? You wanted them to disobey the law?

A) That's NOT capitalism! That's greed...big difference. Greed is what Enron did with their employees. Greed is Nike using kids in sweatshops. That's greed...Capitalism is business making. You do not take legal action to put someone out of business like Sony is doing to Lik-sang. They have a right to file a lawsuit. But no right to put someone out of business. It's ethically wrong and bad terrible business. I don't know what Communist mumble jumble you're digging. But that's not what is consider good business.

B) Your excuses don't work me either. So call this a stalemate. I don't have side with anyone. I take my side and observed. Which is what you are not doing.

Originally posted by Draco69
Have you ever watched a Pepsi commercial? You know the ones that say "we're better than Coke." Or any OTHER brand that says "we're better than the leading brand."

Do they get sued? Do they have the right to sue? Nope.

There goes that arguement.

😆

Is there ANYTHING slanderous or insulting about the price comparision sheet? Anything at all? NOPE. Is there anything that is a lie about the other products? NOPE. Is there ANYTHING that was on the FACT sheet that wasn't...well...a FACT?

Nope.

Honey, you act like this is the first time a corporation has posted a comparision sheet between their product and the other competing products. And it's neither illegal nor against the law.

Come on now....

Never and I do mean never have I seen an add in which Pepsi says "requires you" Don't play hokey pokey with me. Fact is that Sony Lied in the chart. They made themselves look stupid and if stupidity should be followed by a lawsuit. By all reason Sony would be flooded with legal claims.

Originally posted by Draco69

Is there ANYTHING slanderous or insulting about the price comparision sheet? Anything at all? NOPE. Is there anything that is a lie about the other products? NOPE. Is there ANYTHING that was on the FACT sheet that wasn't...well...a FACT?

Nope.

Honey, you act like this is the first time a corporation has posted a comparision sheet between their product and the other competing products. And it's neither illegal nor against the law.

Come on now....

Actually, most of that fact sheet is nothing BUT flat-out lies. It was trying to imply you needed to buy all sorts of stuff (as in it was required or the system wouldn't run and you couldn't play games) for Xbox360 but you didn't for PS3 and thus the PS3 was cheaper. Never mind the fact that all the so-called 360 'requirements' were nothing but optional add-on accessories and the system would work just fine and be playable without them.

If that's not lying I don't know what is.

Originally posted by Lana
It's not even like Sony stuff was all they sold...but only one company has a problem with it. Hmmm.

Well of course not. It's commonplace for a company to....ignore certain ephitets of the law to make a profit.

However doing so would not only violate copyright laws but also laws regarding importing and exporting of goods. Which is the crux of the issue.

Europe has a TERRIBLE technological division (expect for cars...) in comparision to Japan.

Sony is a leading corporation for electronic goods. The EU apparently had a problem with it because it meant THEIR European goods that would be sold for a greater profit for the country were being superceded by JAPANESE goods that would mean less profit for Europe and more profit for Japan.

It's not really about consumer safety. That's just the red tape. It REALLY comes down to exporting and importing of goods in a capitalist society....

Which is a time-old issue. Even now...

Originally posted by Draco69
Well of course not. It's commonplace for a company to....ignore certain ephitets of the law to make a profit.

However doing so would not only violate copyright laws but also laws regarding importing and exporting of goods. Which is the crux of the issue.

Europe has a TERRIBLE technological division (expect for cars...) in comparision to Japan.

Sony is a leading corporation for electronic goods. The EU apparently had a problem with it because it meant THEIR European goods that would be sold for a greater profit for the country were being superceded by JAPANESE goods that would mean less profit for Europe and more profit for Japan.

It's not really about consumer safety. That's just the red tape. It REALLY comes down to exporting and importing of goods in a capitalist society....

Which is a time-old issue. Even now...

Think of it this way - do you think Sony believes that European gamers are going to be happy about the fact that they've been screwed over with the PS3 release date, on top of the fact that they're constantly screwed over when it comes to games coming out there, even though Europe is a larger gaming market than either Japan or the US?

I know I'd certainly be pissed and either not bother, or find some other way to get the games.

Wonder if Sony will do anything about people importing Japanese systems or games to the US? Because that is incredibly common as well.

Originally posted by Lana
Actually, most of that fact sheet is nothing BUT flat-out lies.

Like what? Name one. Good luck on that...

Originally posted by Lana
It was trying to imply you needed to buy all sorts of stuff (as in it was required or the system wouldn't run and you couldn't play games) for Xbox360 but you didn't for PS3 and thus the PS3 was cheaper. Never mind the fact that all the so-called 360 'requirements' were nothing but optional add-on accessories and the system would work just fine and be playable without them.

Of course it was trying to imply that the Xbox 360 was cheaper. That's called advertisement. EVERYONE does it. Even a friggin corporation that sells Bounty does it.

Implication does not mean lying. Look at the top. The Xbox 360's Core System does indeed not have a HDD. Nor a wireless controller. Nor a HD DVD Drive. Nor a $50 subscription to Xbox Live. Did they lie about that? Nope? How about the prices? Nope.

As you say, it was an implication that the PS3 was cheaper than the Xbox 360. But the fact sheet pertains to the core system. Thus they weren't lying if you wanted the specific accessories that is already found with the PS3 rather than the Core system.

Is it misleading? Yep. Is it an implication? Yep.

Is it ANY different from what other corporations do in their advertisements in order to sell their product?

Absolutely not.

It's not new.

😬

If that's not lying I don't know what is. [/B][/QUOTE]

I forgot to add that the other 360 contains all that stuff and is still cheaper than the basic PS3 console. And of course the fact sheet does not point that out.

And as they are implying that all the accessories are required (which you cannot deny they are doing, as it straight-out says "required to buy"😉, which is not true, yes I would say that is lying. Hiding the truth is lying.

Originally posted by Lana
Think of it this way - do you think Sony believes that European gamers are going to be happy about the fact that they've been screwed over with the PS3 release date, on top of the fact that they're

Because, as I implied, the European EU of Economic Affairs has a VERY stingy process when it comes to importation of foreign electronic goods. Especially from Japan.

If ANYONE has ANY knowledge about the notrorous European importation process of electronic goods, they'd know it's not because Sony doesn't WANT to.

THINK PEOPLE. Why would a firm purposefully withhold a product to be sold in a country for a substantial profit? To "piss them off?" Because they're mean? Because they hate the French?

No. It's because Europe has a very, very difficult and taxing process of electronic goods.

They have a sucky electronic market. When a country has a bad market, they highly tax imports and make the country importing that said good jump through hoops.

Now why didn't the Xbox 360 have problems? Because they're American. Europe has preferential importation standards for all countries and corporations. And it just so happens that Sony and Japan is at the top of their list....

Originally posted by Lana
though Europe is a larger gaming market than either Japan or the US?

Well let's think. You stated that Europe is a larger gaming market than the US or Japan.

WHY would a firm PURPOSEFULLY deny PROFIT from the LARGEST market that would give the MOST profit?

Is it because they're mean? Or they wanna piss off people?

NO.

It's because of the EU Importation Standards.

Why would Sony purposefully cut a big chunk outta their profits if the governmental laws didn't hold them back?

Originally posted by Lana
Wonder if Sony will do anything about people importing Japanese systems or games to the US? Because that is incredibly common as well.

No. It's because the USA has a VERY lax importation standard compared to other countries in the world....especially Europe.

Originally posted by Lana
I forgot to add that the other 360 contains all that stuff and is still cheaper than the basic PS3 console. And of course the fact sheet does not point that out.

Well of course not. That's not the purpose of an advertisement. You do know what advertisement is, right?

Originally posted by Lana
And as they are implying that all the accessories are required (which you cannot deny they are doing, as it straight-out says "required to buy"😉, which is not true, yes I would say that is lying. Hiding the truth is lying.

😆

Honey, PLEASE. It's business. I don't know WHERE you got this idea that firms have to tell the whole truth (other than what the laws dictate for them to do) in order to badly reflect on them.

Why Sony all of sudden? Other firms have been doing it for decades. Microsoft included. Hell, they did the same damn thing with the PC years ago when going at it with Apple.

Is it because you're genuinely aghast at a company using advertisement that is appropiately misleading for the benefit of their company? Or is it because it's Sony?

Yeah...

It's the latter.

ALL firms use this tactic. Sony is not alone. Especially when it comes to Microsoft who is the BASTION when it comes to less than honesty business ethics....

Number one, quit with the 'honey' crap.

Number two, where did you get this idea that I'm an MS fan and am only against this because it's Sony? You're dead wrong. I am not a fan of any sort of advertising technique that involves lying or hiding the truth. Whatever happened to relying on the merits of your product instead of badmouthing another?

Originally posted by WrathfulDwarf
Uhhh...nowhere in my post does it mention the PS3. So I'm assuming you're kidding there...

Come on Draco, don't YOU have better things to do than to make excuses for an electronic gadget corporation that doesn't care about you only your money?

If Sony is indeed completely right to make a lawsuit. Then by all means MS has every right to give Sony a HUUUUGE slap on the face with a lawsuit for this little ad:

http://www.killermovies.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&postid=7621272&highlight=userid%3A14101#post7621272

ROFL! that "Fact" sheet was the bomb.. I'm gonna have to send that to all my friends 😆 😆

Originally posted by Lana
Number two, where did you get this idea that I'm an MS fan and am only against this because it's Sony?

Huh? I was referring to WrathfulDwarf.

😐

Not you...

Originally posted by Lana
Whatever happened to relying on the merits of your product instead of badmouthing another?

They didn't "badmouth" the other product. What did they give? The FACTUAL price of the Core system for the Xbox 360 in comparision to the Wii and the Core system for the PS3.

There were no insults.

There were no lies.

All of it were purely facts for the consumer to judge.

A example of "badmouthing" would be if Microsoft or Sony says "Nintendo sucks and people who play the game are geeks." Which Sony didn't do. Hell, they posted the correct pricing and advertisement for the Wii, didn't they? They were on the fact sheet as well. Were they "badmouthed" as well?

Nope...

😐

How stating the actual pricing for an actual system is "badmouthing" I'll never know....