Lik-Sang.com shut down by Sony lawsuits
By Paul Miller 
posted Oct 24th 2006 12:21PM
posted Oct 24th 2006 12:21PM
Dear Lik-Sang.com,We hear your recent legal spat with Sony Computer Entertainment has ended your long and glorious run as grey market importer of choice, sapping both your resources and potential revenue streams. You were always there for us when we needed a DS lite before it hit the States, or a Japan-only karaoke-based cooking game that might've otherwise never made its way into our hands, and we're sorry to see you taken down by "The Empire" in such a dramatic fashion. If it's any consolation, it looks like the very Sony Europe execs that just busted you for supposedly infringing on their "trade marks, copyright and registered design rights," won't be able to import whatever fancy consoles Sony Japan busts out next, since most of 'em got their PSPs via you last time around. But of course, Europeans really "don't mind" waiting for Sony products, so maybe the point is moot. Anyways, you will be missed Lik-Sang, but never forgotten -- also, would you mind hooking us up with some Pokemon Diamond on your way out?
Thanks,
Engadget
[Thanks, Mark A.]
Sad to hear it - they also had unique products - not just private mod chips.
^^ Sorry - I meant "pirate" not "private"
What a shame that the greedy mega-corps managed to shut down another company providing a unique (and WANTED) service to consumers.
Yet another reason to NOT buy a PS3.
"What a shame that the greedy mega-corps managed to shut down another company providing a unique (and WANTED) service to consumers."
I'd like to throw in the word "illegal" after "..WANTED)" if you don't mind. I would expect any business that has such a huge world-wide market to do the same.
And... although I'm a big a fan of Lik-Sang, they kind of brought this on themselves. They've known that Sony was going to take action for some time now. They could have worked out a deal with hardware sales or something. In the battle of small businesses and mega corporations, the little guys will never get everything they want. They have to be willing to negotiate and give up certain things to stay afloat. That really sucks, but it's true in just about every facet of life.
Are you a twelve years old, or do you not think before you speak? “Yet another reason to NOT buy a PS3”. What does Sony shutting down a company that makes illegal products deals with not buying a PS3? It is like me saying, Windows sucks so let us not buy an XBox360. BTW, I have an Xbox360 and I preordered a PS3.
Thanks sony, as you know we dont mind waiting for our consoles. We also only ever want to play the games you release here in the UK and never want to try the offerings from Japan. So Lik-sang going out of buisiness really is good, your protecting us...
STFU!!! You really hate us europeans dont you, not only do you delay but take away any chance we have of getting a console early.
We can make up our own mind. As you fully know the consoles you sell in the States or Japan are the same 100% as the UK ones you will eventually sell (and have no stock of). Telling some old judge in the UK that you are worried about imported consoles being unsafe is rubbish, he should have slapped you for selling dangerous consoles.
Well, one good thing came out of it, your now screwed for getting your imports yourself. Obviously sony arnt giving out the freebies so well done.
Everyone give them a round of applause for being such big bullys.
Time to sue the ebayers next, how about the internet in general?
Lik-Sang has not sold modchips for a long time, that stopped a while back after another lawsuit. This is truly disappointing and just goes to show that Sony is a bunch of assholes, plain and simple. I hope the PS3 is a miserable failure.
screw sony, you know all these corporations are greedy but sony is the worst. With their storage formats they release all of which failed. Remember they created memory sticks which only they use,blu ray,you can throw um in their kind of,md players and probably other formats that failed. The thing i dont get is i didnt see lik-sang selling as much as other companies are selling. Also this wont stop the problem of piracy as another company will pop up and take its place. Its not going to help one bit!
Heres a well desirved middle finger to Sony. Breaking up a well used and valuable asset to the gaming community. all the more reason to not buy Sony.
That's it; officially boycotting Sony for their dumbass actions. Someone PLEASE slap some sense into the management...!
Huh? Lik-Sang got shutdown? But I can still access their website. Do you mean to say that I can't order from them anymore? Or just no PS3 pre-orders? Clarify.
you're an idiot! Read the article.
Umm, nevermind, I see the the announcement on their site. Ignore my previous post.
As a businessman I understand fully why Sony did what they did. As a gamer I am sorry to see Lik-Sang go.
Let's face facts though they were a black/grey market company that skirted trade laws. While Sony will take the blame for this in tech circles...Nintendo, MS, and countless other electronic manufacturers will reap the benefits also without the bad PR.
Boycott Sony .......
How retarded, I only ever used LikSang twice (both for legal products, just game imports), it was a great resource that no other company provides. FU, Sony. I hope you, along with Blu-ray and the PS3, burn in hell.
Chalk me up as one more consumer completely fed up with Sony *forever*.
(Boycott Sony)
I'm not buying a PS3 and never intended to. However, this one article and action taken by Sony has infuriated me beyond comprehension. Lik-Sang was/is a brilliant site, and on a numerous amount of times I've imported from them into the UK. They provide an excellent service and the products are always delivered in a safe and efficient manor. This outcry of "Strict EU or UK consumer safety standards", is ridiculous, it truly is.
Lik-Sang provide the correct adapters for any of its exported consoles/handhelds and they ARE accepted by the UK/EU standards. I have about three of them.
As for the PS3, most people who would of ordered from Lik-Sang would of seen a notice if any of the products may be under privileged in any sense, therefore never Kansas-shuffling the customer into losing out on an 'essential' feature.
What a horrible, horrible monster Sony are turning into. RIP Lik-Sang. I'll hold onto my space invader keychain forever.
I remember when Sony used to be a mark of quality. Now when I here the name Sony I think unreliable, unplanned and overly expensive products and customer service that comprises of lies and greed.
I don't think Sony are going to understand how peeved everyone is at them until someone organises a boycott.
Wow, you just got pushed off my Holiday list Sony. Matter of fact, I will not be buying a new PS2 to replace my current one that is going out.
Sad to see you turn into such a dick sony.
Can't say I'm boycotting Sony since I've just spent $$$$ for its LCD TV. But I'm less inclined to buy a PS3 now. Haven't they got enough bad press already lately? What the hell are they thinking using the "protect consumers" card when they're actually hurting us? F*** the safety standards, too. People carry them everywhere. If they're safe in Asia/America, they better be considered safe everywhere else or they have to admit making super crappy sh*t.
Grey importing is not illegal, Sony got Lik-Sang, on copyright infringement.
I wonder how long it is before Sony go for grey-imported Blu-ray players -- twice the price in Europe as USA -- and Blu-ray discs too. Sure they don't want a repeat of the DVD market, with lots of people buying discs from outside their "region".
sony is starting to turn into a big bully , who cares if some top geeks have a ps3 its kids & teens that make up the numbers in the end & they will wait.
i was thinking about buying the ps3 but the delay after delay & price range sucks this was the final nail in the coffin of that idea.
Just received from Lik Sang:
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
OH MY GOD I F*CKING HATE SONY
And in the middle of the night was a whisper on the wind... that glorious word "Backhander".
Seriously, how is importing Sony gear copyright infringement - it's still Sony made and therefore bought from them. Yet another greedy corporation screwing over consumers in favour of a greater pofit margin.
Shame on you $ony!
This is a sad loss. Lik-Sang imported many accessories that manufacturers would have no way of supplying to worldwide customers (hmm like Sony really).
Lik-Sang isn't admitting they did anything wrong. They lack the funds to compete with Sony's legal gangraping. I wish I could say I was going to boycott them, but I already have after their rootkit CDs. Buy Sony and you'll get more than you pay for... sometimes WAY more. More trouble. More headaches. More DRM.
Here's a digg "article" that just happens to link directly to www.sony.com. Get it?
http://digg.com/gaming_news/US_to_be_2_million_short_of_PS3s
Wow. Are you serious? I had never known how deep sony had to go just to stop imports. Lik-Sang did a lot for the gaming community. I was almost thinking about buying a PS3 but this has completely squashed even the tiniest craving for a PS3. Sony, you suck.
I wouldn't have my sweet DS case if it weren't for Lik-Sang. RIP.
I've been boycotting Sony since the rootkit scandal, this is just another fun note to add to their list.
Why not inform Sony of how you feel as a customer?
http://www.sony-europe.com/view/ShowArticle.action?section=en_EU_Press&articlesection=19&article=1061464968278&site=odw_en_EU
I'm sure the PR people would love to hear from enraged customers?
Here are the email addresses for the Sony Pan-European press contacts:
Shusuke.Kanai [at] eu.sony [dot] com
press [at] eu.sony [dot] com
Tell 'em what you think!
Well there's always http://www.play-asia.com/ and their service is better too. But on the other hand, Lik-sang had free worldwide shipping on all games. (They wouldn't send me a DS lite though, that's why Play-Asia is better, 'cause they did.)
I remeber when I got my Gamecube component cables from Lik-Sang. No other way to get them in the US, I even tried my local import gaming store. Was that illegal? Doubt it. I wish they had the funds to fight Sony. I was looking forward to the PS3, not anymore now. Probably for the better since I bet the quality will be lacking, don't want my living room in flames.
:P
I hope PS3 will fail sooooooooooooooo ugly!!!!!
it would make the entire Sony co. go bankrupt!!!
GOD please help.. teach Sony some bitter lesson.
please make them go bankrupt.
Most of the people here who are bashing sony would be failures at running a company. The truth is Lik Sang was a great place, but also a place that violated some laws. Is it not Sony or any other companie's right to file a lawsuit against such actions? Why didn't Lik-Sang go to court with them or pay a settlement? Lik-Sang has been getting sued by many companies over the last decaade not just Sony.
That's is a shame!
I never bought something in LikSang, but my PS2, I bought trough black market a 2 years ago. Here in Argentina, Sony doesnt represents the own product of Playstation, 2 years ago. I tried to bought an original, I sent a mail to USA, so... they tell me they cant support the ps2 in my country in that moment.
So, I want to have one, so I need to bought a PS2, that is a local rumour, in Argentina is assembly with repaired pieces... but i have no choice.
Recently, in this year, Sony arrives to my country with PS2... 2 YEARS LATER!! C´Mon! and the black market, is diseaparing by few...
How they can do that?? They want to sell his products by his own, but doesnt represent or doesnt sell worldwide at the same time! A SHAME!
I like how Lik-Sang in their announcement casually threw in a laundry list of Sony execs who happened to purchase gear from them, I wonder if Sony will get mad at them for "fraternizing with the enemy (you know, the enemy that buys our consoles and completely legally exports them)".
I was seriously considering ordering Pokemon Diamond from them about a week ago, I guess I'm glad I didn't, because it probably would have been cancelled. A shame, since it was always a great source for Japan-only games and other stuff. Maybe a miracle will happen, Sony will eat shit and die, and they'll be able to come back as a new company. Of course, that'll be about the time when pigs fly...
Sony, you suck,no; thats not enough, you really suck, badly.... WTF are you doing shutting down a business over something that trivial... Its like a handicapped person shutting down restaurant for a lack of wheelchair access, and that restaurant offers other methods of service, such as coming to you for services...
This is truly a low blow sony, I wont even acknowledge your company with a capital letter...
This is truly a sad year for Sony..
Forgive me if it seems I am completely biased, ill try to keep this to facts:
Sony has had so many problems with their stuff this year:
- Dell, and Apple, and a few other companies using sony laptop batteries have caused one of the biggest battery recalls in the world...
- The PS3, is bloody expensive, and on top of that, there is ab out 400,000 units being produced (this one needs double checking)
- Blu-Ray has its rival, HD-DVD...
NOT good PR for sony...
boycotting sony.
Shadow that analogy was poor.
Also for the whiners: http://www.play-asia.com/
Vizion: I run quite a successful company, but like Gadgets. :)
You said "place that violated some laws", but that's simply not true. There is nothing wrong with grey-importing and precidents have been set in English courts before (e.g. Levi jeans and Tesco).
However, Sony's legal team managed to get Lik-Sang on a copyright issue that is pretty bogus, and they convinced the judge it was "consumer safety" that was the issue.
Lik-Sang have obviously closed their doors because they know that Sony will simply keep up the legal attacks on trivial issues because they know they can't get them on grey-importing (BECAUSE IT IS PERFECTLY LEGAL).
If I was Play-Asian I'd be worried.
If I was PlayUSA.com, MovieTyme.com, DVDPacific.com or any other retailer who grey-imports and sells Blu-ray 'Region A' to Europe I would also be worried.
OMFG can Sony just die!? They just keep findings ways to steal from other smaller companies and rape their consumers. Hopefully the combination of their horribly flawed batteries and the PS3 bankrupts them. But... since most people are dumb and ignorant, I am sure that Sony's gut will only grow fat with the glut of cash their mindless fanboys will provide.
Lol, a bunch of whiney ass kids that don't even know that Lik-Sang was sued for cpyright infringment. If they would have followed the rules like a good little company, this would have never happened. Again, the blame is put on Sony. Why? I have no clue.
I say, Go Sony!
(anyone taking bets on how fast this comment get's lowest ranked?)
@Andir3.0
No, but I will take bets on how fast it will take for everyone KNOW you’re an idiot.
"Lol, a bunch of whiney ass kids that don't even know that Lik-Sang was sued for cpyright infringment. If they would have followed the rules like a good little company, this would have never happened. Again, the blame is put on Sony. Why? I have no clue.
I say, Go Sony!"
And what happens when Sony doesn't play by the rules? Lets say they go and install worse-than-a-virus malware in millions of peoples computers; Sony gets a slap on the wrist that is hardly a dent to a mega-corporation like it is.
Sony knows it can get away with bullying Lik-Sang because most mainstream customers have never heard of it. If Lik Sang were a huge company with money to burn on lawsuits, this legal hasseling would've either never happened or Lik Sang would've been equipped to fight it and probably gotten a favorable ruling.
Also, you seem to confuse what's right with what's legal. Sony has proven time and again that right != legal.
hahahaha
People still spewing the old "I'm boycotting Sony" crap. Good luck with that.
Lik-Sang broke the law. Sony were legally the victims. As a European, I hate that we get left til last and people have felt the need to resort to grey imports, but as a businessman, I wholeheartedly understand what Sony have had to do. Just because Sony are a large company doesn't mean they cannot be protected by international trade laws like any other company.
It has nothing to do with copyright issues and everything to do with Sony shafting the European gamers IMO.
If thats not the case then can someone actually explain to me why we are not seeing a single console until 2007? Or why Sony have just closed off one of the grey importers?
Nope, didnt think so, Sony dont give a crap about you in Europe so why buy their products (unless you like the idea of keeping your hands warm with the toasty battery inside that PS3 controller :) )
TheGuyNextDoor + Vizion = same guy. Do you work for Sony's PR?
No matter how many times you say it, doesn't change the fact that grey-importing is perfectly legal.
The copyright infringement was that Lik-Sang used the Sony and PSP names and logos in its advertising and web-site.
Hey, Captain Genius:
The point of NOT buying a PS3 is to show Sony that you are so disgusted in their heavy-handed tactics that you won't buy ANY of their products.
Get over yourself.
Oh, and you probably own a Porsche 911 to go along with the 360 and the reserved PS3, right? How's living in mom and dad's basement in Staten Island treating you, anyway?
What the F are you talking about? Stop wining like a little B****. Quit hating you little hillbilly. Oh my god, just because Sony stopped a company from ruining their product/business, that does not mean you should B**** about it. How would you like it if someone tries to F with your business? If you want to B**** about something, then B**** about Microsoft. Stop being racist, just because Sony is foreign that does not mean you need to hate them, you disgust me. Mature up you little preschooler.
Man this is depressing.
If Sony was really interested in jusy copyright infringement, they could have easily ordered a ceast-and-desist on the items in question instead of shutting down the whole site.
This is Sony, once again, deciding they get to determine what customers what, not the other way around.
What copyright was being violated by ordering a component cable or a DS cover??
Sony didn't shut them down. They shut down on their own, and blamed Sony's lawsuits. They could have easily used the law to remain open. There's a big difference.
Grey market info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grey_market
Sony are blind to realise that sites like Lik-Sang are the lifeblood of gamers and create an environment that will ultimately lead to more sales for them. It's an incredibly short sighted and arrogant move by Sony. I hope the PS3 truly goes to hell now and I'm off to hack my PSP.
"Law" involves lawyers, which involves lots of money. Sony has lots of money, Lik-Sang probably could not compete
Wow you guys are defensive idiots.
Sony simply bullied them with multiple lawsuits just to close them down. Don't give me that "business men" rubbish because it's obvious that it was nothing more than bully tactics to close Lik-Sang down since they wanted to sell PSPs and was the ONLY retailer that didn't just roll over and beg.
"Copyright Infringement" is shallow as well as other stores blatantly use Sony's logos probably without even a whisper to get it agreed with the company. All they did was crush them the only way they could, with _money_. Mirroring documents shouldn't even have gone to court as I am sure a simple notification to remove the items from the website would of been accepted and Lik-Sang stopped their practice of supplying "Development Kits" long before this started.
If you honestly agree with those ethics then you have some serious issues.
"Who here is begining to feel that 50% of these Sony bashing comments are internal to Engadget? Does no one question the fact that there are ZERO positive posts for anything pertaining to the PS3. This goes a little bit beyond bandwagon hoppin, or just generating hits. Why is it that MS and Nintendo are the only ones that get good press here?"
It is actually the feeling on all blogs right now, give it a couple days and I am sure it will be a small blip on the local news outlets. So no it isn't just this blog.
The following is "hate mail" to Sony =D
Sony, Sony, Sony... That is poor judgement on your part. Lik-Sang was what gave people in different countries the ability to purchase consoles. What the people did with said product (PSP) was not in your interest as a company, to prevent ANY "harm to the consumer, where products differ in region". Oh whats a few volts between importers? Your failure to recoginize a potential mistake on your part, could cause a loss for not just for you Sony, but for the consumer. Your already sad attempt at a nex-gen system AT A FREAKING $500! You have failed the consumer, not intervened to protect them. It's apparent you dont learn from past mistakes; holding Beta VCR technology close the belt, keeping videogame hardware from an ENTIRE COUNTRY, because it doesn't meet "strict nation standards" WHAT DOES THAT MEAN? MY UNITED STATES PSP IS GOING TO EXPLODE IN EUROPE? Hey Sony for once, why don't you attempt a worldwide release? No, that makes too much sense. Oh well Sony, you definitely let people down, not to mention ALL OF THE UK.
Sincerely yours,
An anonymous disgruntled Sony Customer
i can't believe i'm hearing this...
that was the best site ever for gaming
now who will i turn to for my stuf???
i mean...they gave such a good service, it was unbelievable
i got the FFVII ultra package at them, my statue was not 100% and they just sent me a new one without havin to return the old!
how much better can your service be?
I'm going to buy a PS3 just so I can take a huge crap on it, coat it in varnish, mount it on a marble pedestal and display it in a glass case in my living room as testament to the most satisfying dump I have ever experienced in my entire life.
I know you didn't mean to, but you make a nice point. Boycotting the PS3 **HELPS** Sony, since they will actually take a loss on each unit sold (to be made up in software / bluray sales).
REALLY want to bankrupt Sony - buy all the PS3's available and just sit on the things. Or better yet, donate them to the Euro hackers to see how fast we can start bittorrenting the games... By boycotting the system, we're only guaranteeing the few available this season go to those paying no attention to the scene (most likely to buy all the games and accessories)
* before I'm called an idiot 50 times, I realize it's an absurd idea. Just making a point. If I had an extra disposable $600 to contribute to a boycott, I wouldn't be toiling away at this desk...
I just hope they don't attack other importers. Mainly play-asia, because I've ordered alot from them.
OMFG SONY MONEY HUNGRY AZZ I LIKED LIK-SANG THEZE BIG CORP THEZE DAYZ ALWAYZ TAKIN DOWN THE LITTLE GUYZ
If I could buy a PS3 for each and every exquisite bowel movement I could muster, I would.
To be correct, though, buying a PS3 is giving money to Sony. Otherwise, they have useless hunks of semiconductors and plastic gathering dust in their warehouses. The money they "lost" was during production. Sales can only help.
How comes Sony only blocks the EU importing? why not USA to JAPAN and vise-versa? come on Sony have you got the balls to stop these importing too...
NO FUTURE SONY PURCHASES PLANNED NOW, IN THE NEAR FUTURE OR EVER...
Play Asia do not and will not supply PSP or PS3 to any EU address, (they stopped this ages ago as Sony threatend there suppliers)
Why was sony providing them with PSP's in the first place. Its not like Lik-Sang was hiding the fact that they ship world-wide...as thier front page clearly states. This is either a publicity stunt, or a feeble attempt to put themselves in a more positive light after all the battery recall suits. Sony, you are truely pathetic.
yet another reason to hate sony (they just lost the 600 bucks i was gonna pull outta my arse for the ps3!)
You know, what I don't understand is, if they're going to take action like that, why in the hell did they make the PS3 and PSP region free??
We already know that the software selection will differ by region, so why dangle the option of buying foreign games in our faces, only to snatch it away by closing down lik-sang? Who's next? Play-Asia?
Lik-Sang.com dies, but Lik-Seng.net is soon to rise from its ashes? Maybe? We can hope ...
*Sigh ... Sadly, I was a huge Sony fan up until all this PS3 shit started. Never had a problem with a single Sony product I own/owned (digital cam, camcorder, playstation 1/2, tv, etc) ... I still have my Sony Walkman from like 1984 and it still works. I took my U.S. PS2 with me when I moved to France for 2 years, plugged it right into the wall, no problems thanks to the SONY dual voltage brick I picked up. How they can argue that LikSang sold these dangerous devices when they were/are doing the same is complete bullshit. Sony will never see another "big american dollah" (yes, I know, it's not so big anymore) from me and my HDTV upgrade is right around the corner (X-mas).
GG Sony ... I hope you enjoy the battery recalls and your dismal PS3 sales.
Add my name to the list of someone who isnt going to be buying sony's products.
Another reason why I have not bought a Sony product since the original Playstation.
I love it when Sony bends me over, feels oh so good.
Thanks for all those now not buying a PS3 making my chances of landing one marginally better. :P
Being 31 and very tech savvy, I have never heard of Lik-sang which may be why I don't care. If you lost something over this, my condolences. I'm sure more back door's will open for all that must have stuff that you can't find regionally.
How about a "Save Lik-Sang" Fund? At leeast help them out with their legal problems!!
They've helped out us gamers and enthusaists for years. Maybe we can help them out too...
I think Engadget should spark this one up!
Lik-Sang was a great site- my sister bought her GameCube there (Spice, the only one I've ever seen in person)...
Free shipping on import games (which I actually wanted)...
Fair prices, unlike many other import sites...
Fast shipping (one week from Hong Kong to New York)...
I think anyone who is interested in buying games in a language they don't understand (Japanese not being the dominant language in Britain, America, or... pretty much anywhere outside of Japan) is smart enough to know that the power differences are important. And those who aren't are hopefully smart enough to realise that when they try to plug a Japanese/American power adapter into their British outlet... they aren't the same shape.
What is happening is that European customers didn't want to wait 9 months (and pay extra) for their PSP, so European sales are way down, since everyone bought them from Lik-Sang when they were released in Japan. They don't want to repeat this with PlayStation 3.
Calling Lik-Sang a "black market" site is a huge stretch- they were a legitimate company. If they weren't, they wouldn't be going through so much trouble to refund people's money from pre-orders and credits. Of course, if they weren't legitimate, they would have been shut down a long time ago.
More pure and simple bullshit from the egotistcal bastards at Sony Computer Entertainment. I'm boycotting thier shit.
Two words
Boycott Sony
Wow, by delaying your console in Europe to AFTER Christmas (you told us we dont mind so it must be true), adding your usual European Premium Price Point(an inspired move), removing rumble feature (I never liked being immersed in games anyway) and now forcing importers to close under legal duress you are practically guaranteed a landslide console victory across Europe (faultless logic).
Check & mate Sony, check & mate!
"I'm sure more back door's will open for all that must have stuff that you can't find regionally."
I hear the 360 fans like "backdoors"...
Seriously though. If Sony was truly out to "screw the man". Why would Sony only target one of these establishments and basically leave the other's alone? I think Lik-Balls wanted to close up for whatever reason and they just said "fuck it" and blamed Sony, like everyone else, instead of fighting. I would even go as far as calling them cowards.
WHAT?!?!
Me and two of my friends would NEVER have bought PSP's if it weren't for Lik-Sang!
EUROPEANS WONT WAIT! (Like some of you $ony people think)
We should boycott $ony once and for all!!! Why are people still defending this company?????
BOYCOTT SONY
i've had it with sony. they are an arrogant, greedy, dishonest company that blatantly steals ideas from others, shows contempt for their customers (and repeatedly lies to them), and engages in unethical business practices. i will no longer be buying ANY products made by sony. if they want to keep behaving like gangsters, they can do it without any more of my consumer dollars. i hope other people will do the same. they no longer deserve to be a leader in electronics or gaming. i hope a full-fledged BOYCOTT SONY movement emerges from this. i sincerely hope that lik-sang was able to protect most of its assets. sony abusing its customers is one thing, but potentially tearing up people's lives (the folks at lik-sang) by taking away their HONEST livelihood is completely over the top.
@porsche 911 : WTF are you talking about????
RIP Sony 2007
You won't be missed
Aww so sad, Sony had every right to do this. Lik-Sang were warned to stop selling PSPs to Europe and they chose to ignore Sony and look what happens. Yes I did buy a couple of things from them but this is no big loss for me. Name anything on Lik-Sangs website and I can guarantee I can find it in less than 5min at any of the dozen or so other sites on the Internet.
Also for all the people saying "Sony sucks I will never buy any of their products again." 1)you probably didn't have enough money to get a PS3 anyway so you say this just to sound cool. 2) Are going to get one anyway and are just saying this to sound cool. Lastly I doubt if a few little Internet crybabies not buying a PS3 will really hurt Sony. So go ahead and boycott Sony if you want I will still be getting my PS3 on launch day from Gamestop. As I couldn't care less about their business practices I just like the Ps3 and the future games they will have. Also before you call me a fanboy I own a Xbox360 too and will get a Wii when it comes out. So write or e-mail all the little letters you want or sign all the online petitions you want it will not make a bit of difference. Just give up your futile attempts are pointless.
What Lik-Sang was offering wasn't illegal, so it's not correct to say what they were doing is illegal. Selling grey-market items is NOT illegal. Sony got a judge to rule that Lik-Sang was infringing on Sony's copyright by exporting products out of their intended market. How legally purchasing a product from Sony, where Sony is getting paid, don't forget, and then shipping it to another country infringes on copyright is a joke. I'll bet it wouldn't be surprising if a Sony connected company has made a "donation" to that judge (Cough, cough, bribe). The judge is an idiot because it opens up a pandora's box of legal precedent. Now any manufacturer can sue any company that is exporting products and claim copyright infringment. There are a handful of expatriat stores around the web that supply expatriats with a taste of home, wherever that may be. So Frito-Lay can sue a company because an American in Belgium has a hankering for Cheetos? Copyright infringment is when a lame company like Sony has a slogan and someone rips it off or comes close to it, like if Sony's slogan were, "Sony, we make shitty products and overcharge, too," and then Electronic Arts came along with a slogan, "EA, we make lame products and charge you three times to use them (godfather weapons)"
Fuck Sony. Fuck EA.
I hope the Etch-a-Sketch makes a huge comeback.
You know, threads like this show just how far (or not) the internet has come. When every tom, dick and harry can have a say on any topic. When PS1 was launched way back when, there wasn't nearly the mass internet useage that we have now, and just think of the diatribe people would have written when the whole Nintendo double-crossing Sony fiasco kicked off.
It makes me laugh how people are still crying to boycott Sony products, and feel the need to post such a fact on a page such as this as if it might carry some weight.
If everyone boycotted the product of every manufacturer that underwent an business practice that a certain demographic found unpopular, then nobody would buy anything.
And if you think Lik-Sang was the last grey-importer that will undertake these practices, you're mistaken.
More fool Sony for wasting time and money pursuing these companies, but kudos to them for trying to protect their intellectual properties. And so they should.
@TheGuyNextDoor,
Thank god we have a "Dick and Harry" like you to point these things out for us. "Your long winded diatribe", is sure to carry some weight with the gaming community.
Another pissed off ex-Sony customer. I bought a VAIO in good faith, the hinge snapped three times. I bought a PS2 and the laser failed. I bought another PS2 and the laser failed. I bought a Walkman and it chewed my tape (and stopped charging)
You are treading thin ice Sony. Listen to your customers or you'll go the same way as Enron. I'm off to buy an Xbox360.
Boycott Sony (fucxors)
The fact that Sony executives in Europe used Lik-Sang for the very thing that they claim was copyright infringement is just priceless. What a bunch of losers.
In two or three years, none of this will matter anyway since Sony is a dying company. Everyone is just killing them in home electronics, and the PS3 will not be a good enough pixelbox to save the sinking ship. (In fact, the way things are going, it may drag the ship down even faster.)
-V
Sony should thank Lik-Sang for promoting their product to the world.
This is another reason for me to hate SONY!
when I get a PS3, I'm taking the Sony labels off.
If any Sony Fanboys buy a PS3, any Blu-Ray device, or Defend Sony, in any way. They should be strung up and stabbed in the crotch! And then shot in the head, for being SO F*cking Stupid.
This is the THIN end of the wedge. They’ll go after play-asia.com next! Mark my words. Sony’s done it once – now there’s NONE thing to stop them.
Is this Sony's way of making itself feel better after the ongoing farce that is the huge recall of batteries, by most of the companies who bought them. I was looking forward to the PS3 coming to the UK, but now that has been jaded, I will look elsewhere for my next console.
Dear Sony,
Fuck you greedy ass fuckers! I am in the home theater business and I pledge to never sell another Sony product to any of my customers. Quit trying to blow us up with your batteries and think about doing something good for your company for a change. Answer this: What good did this do? Does it make you feel better about your small Japanese penises? Rot in hell.
Bitches.
A myspace has just been created for people' like myself are tired of Sony ruining the games industry. Show you support at [url]http://www.myspace.com/screwsony[/url]
Enjoy,
Leo