Lik-Sang Closes its Doors
Hong Kong based importer Lik-Sang announced today that it will be closing due to the aftermath of legal action taken by Sony Computer Entertainment, which attempted to stop the importer from selling Sony PSP consoles from Asia to European customers. The company will be refunding all customers who's orders that have not shipped. According to the news posting on its site, everything will be refunded.
Sony previously stated, in these exact words, that they were "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 fired back by stating "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(...)"
This is pretty sad news when you look at the fact that Lik-Sang were selling legitimate Sony items that were purchased from Sony Computer Entertainment. Lik-Sang offered a safe and easy way for consumers to import hardware and software that wasn't available in their territory.
Sony will more than likely go after other importers shortly, a move that would hurt hardcore gamers in the long run.
Lik-Sang has survived lawsuits from both Microsoft and Nintendo in the past for selling items that promoted piracy.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006