Sony can just go die now

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Seriously. Sony, go shoot yourselves in the head. This seriously makes me mad. You have gone TOO far... By shutting down the largest online importer store in the world.

http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3901

If Play-Asia goes out of business because of Sony, I will fly over to Japan and kill Ken Kutaragi

[ShiroiHikari]

Well, that's freakin' ridiculous. What is the deal with Sony anyway?

[Htom Sirveaux]

"Our name is Sony, blah blah blah. We can charge $500 for a console, blah blah blaaaah..."

[jon_jinn]

that is pathetically pathetic. i can't believe they're doing that. goodbye lik-sang. *SIGH*...

[Omega Amen]

Hmmm, I might as well add in Sony's response, and some information on Lik Sang and the "Grey Market" so that people can get the context surrounding this announcement.

Sony's response: http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=20564

Lik Sang on Wikipedia

It should be noted that this cracking down on "Grey market" companies is quite common in several other industries and legally enforced in most industrialized countries. Therefore, the decision of this court case should not be surprising.

To understand, the "Grey market," here is Wikipedia's article on it.

I guess I will leave any explanations for the next Gamecast.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Yes. I was reading the "Sony denies responsibility" article. But I'm not entirely sure what to make of it. But my gut tells me to lean towards Lik-Sang's side.

[Mega.EXE]

I've thought that since they even thought of using the Boomerang Controller XD

[meboeck]

I can't say I've ever been a big Sony fan, but they sure haven't been doing anything recently that would win me over.

"Our name is Sony, blah blah blah. We can charge $500 for a console, blah blah blaaaah..."

ROFL

[blkmage]

I guess they didn't get it when FIVE HUNDRED NINETY NINE US DOLLARS became the catchphrase of the gaming community's contempt for Sony's recent moves.

[Roy Mustang]

Hmmm, I have mix feelings for Sony. I have had a few TV's and DVD players that work well. I'm happy with my PS2, only that I had to go through two PS2 since I got my first one in 2001.

I never really cared about their others stuff other then I like the Sony computer that I have played around with.


Anyway, to the point of this.

I can't blame Sony for suing them at all. I dislike Grey market companies and from my take, Lik Sang was selling grey market stuff and Sony wasn't the only one to sue them.

They have also been sue by Nintendo and Microsoft, so you just can't take blame Sony for this and if the big three were suing them.

Wingzero22

[Mr. SmartyPants]

They have also been sue by Nintendo and Microsoft, so you just can't take blame Sony for this and if the big three were suing them.

Right, they were sued for Nintendo and Microsoft. For selling mod-chips. Which they took off their line.

I see absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to buy an imported game. I do it myself time to time. If Play-asia and lik-sang go down, I won't be able to get my copy of Jump Ultimate Stars or something.

[Nate]

I see absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to buy an imported game.

*SIGH* Did you even bother to READ the links Omega posted, or did you just ignore them in your stupid quest to rant at Sony? THIS ISN'T ABOUT IMPORT GAMES. I will post the part of the links Omega gave, but you'll probably ignore those too.

In August of 2005, the company was once again in legal trouble, this time from Sony. Lik Sang had sold imported PSPs to UK customers before the UK release date, which they alleged was a breach of their trademark rights. Lik Sang continued shipping PSPs, citing Hong Kong's laws which it claims state an item can be traded freely once it appears in a market anywhere in the world.

On October 23, 2006, the High Court in London ruled the shipments were indeed in breach of Sony's rights. The following day, Lik Sang posted a message on their website claiming they had been forced out of business due to Sony's legal action. Sony responded in a statement saying that Lik Sang had not contested the case, thus incurring no legal fees, and had not paid any damages or costs to Sony.

So Hong Kong BROKE TRADEMARK LAW. What part of doing illegal business do you NOT understand? Sony has EVERY right to sue this company for breaking the law and flippantly telling Sony "we can break the law if we want." Further, the company didn't contest the case, meaning they KNEW they were wrong and would waste money by doing so.

You know what, continue your quest to break down Sony, I don't even care. They're not going to go out of business because of your little "quest," and this court case to defend their rights is proof of that.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Yes. I was reading the "Sony denies responsibility" article. But I'm not entirely sure what to make of it. But my gut tells me to lean towards Lik-Sang's side.

And aren't grey market items legal?

[Shinja]

i dont think the copmany concerned can really be considered a grey market bussiness, in that they dont offer products at a competitive price, when ds lites first came out in japan only they charged a $70 permium to purchace one on top of shipping fees, while a true grey market company would import products priced competitively cheaper than those of legitimate retailers. ilksang may have just been lumped in with the rest of questionable companies and greymaket venders. to be sure a good going over of the cases would be nessisery.

[Stephen]

*yawn* More Sony bashing I see. I was just talking to some friends last night about this. Nintendo fans are becoming the ugliest fans of anything in the world right now. Angry, spiteful, and bitter. Probably at some point, I am just gonna stop reading all threads on the gaming board.

[Shia Kyosuka]

huh...

So it's only the Nintendo fans who are upset about this, huh?

hmm...

Sony Forums?

Microsoft Forums?

*sigh* the Nintendo fans are always the ones singled out, here. :/

If anything, that's going to make me stop reading the Gamers Galore forum.

[desperado]

I find it amusing that on a sony borde I was seeing comments like "Dark streak of sony actions" and other such. Sound like trolls to me. And when has a microsoft fanboy and a sony fanboy ever got along. So in all that can not really be said for an example since this is the internet I can sign up for any borde and troll them untill they boot me and no one will be the wiser.

But, do I think Sony is being just a bit stupid? Yes, they should have released the psp in Europe sooner. But Sony has always done things..."differently".

By the way....white knight story and resistance fall of man=epic and win.

[samuraidragon]

I think Sony was just doing what it was legally entitled to. People might be mad that Napser was shut down, but that doesn't make it right.

[Nate]

And aren't grey market items legal?

...

Never mind. It was foolish of me to think you were going to read my post. Well, at least I know better.

[mastersquirrel]

...

Never mind. It was foolish of me to think you were going to read my post. Well, at least I know better.

Now I'm kinda glad I decided against posting what I was going to say and what I found. Many minutes of typing and furthering my hands toward carpel tunnels avoided.

[Cognitive Gear]

...

Never mind. It was foolish of me to think you were going to read my post. Well, at least I know better.

I believe this actually DOES fall into the category of Grey Market items.

Grey market, by my understanding, is the distrobution of new (unused) items through distrobution channels that are unauthorized or unintended by the manufacturer.

Can you please clarify how this is:

A: NOT a grey market item

B: A violation of trademark laws. Sony held the trademark, yes. But I believe that trademarks only serve to protect a product or service from other companies through ensuring that the product or service is distinguishable from that of other companies. I fail to see how selling a legit PSP purchased from SOJ to consumers in UK is a breach of this.

If I am mistaken, please correct me so that I may learn.

Just because it's ruled to be so in a court does not mean it is so, as most court systems found anywhere reward the one with the most cash.

[Nate]

B: A violation of trademark laws.

Trademark law is a very complicated business, and I haven't studied law, and I don't know if you have or not, but probably not, given your interests. Therefore, all we can know is what Sony has said, and what the courts have ruled.

But I will say you have been a gamer for years, and you know that stores can be in HUGE legal trouble if they have a game, but sell it before its release date, yes? I've seen that before too, asked why I couldn't buy a game even though I saw it right there in the store, but the fact is if something is sold before its release date, there are ENORMOUS penalties.

Which is what Lik Sang was doing, selling the UK PSPs BEFORE the European release date. Just like a game that hasn't hit its release date yet, this is another one of those deals. Sony told them to stop, but Lik Sang refused]Just because it's ruled to be so in a court does not mean it is so, as most court systems found anywhere reward the one with the most cash.[/QUOTE]
Ooh, except you seem to forget Sony LOSING the huge lawsuit over Dual Shock. Sony the giant corporation with huge pockets lost to this smaller company. This proves that money isn't always a factor. Further, Lik Sang had a chance to contest in court, and did not. Why didn't they? If they'd showed up, maybe your statement would have more merit, but the fact that they didn't show up seems to prove to me they had no defense for their actions and knew it.

EDIT: Yeah, changed the first paragraph, sorry to assume things I don't know are true, I honestly have no idea if you've studied law or not. Though I must say I can't see you having done so. XD

[Cognitive Gear]

I studied law briefly. And I mean briefly. I really only studied that which applied to starting a company, as that would be something I'd be interested in doing sometime in the future. Also, this was not something I took as a class. So it's nothing even resembling in-depth. I know my assessment of laws could be entirely incorrect.

As for selling things before the street date: I think there is a difference between buying something designed for/released in your country and buying something imported that was designed for/released in a foreign country. I won't explain it here, as it would take up way too much space. I will say though, I'm wondering if this was done due to the PS3 not being region encoded. This sends a message to all stores to not take advantage of price differences between countries.

Also, There where multiple lawsuits filed against lik-sang by Sony in many different countries. I don't think that the court didn't shut them down. I think Sony filing suit in multiple districts forcing them to fight multiple legal battles in different countries shut them down. They didn't show up in court to defend themselves because even if they had won; they wouldn't have had the money to continue business.(I know this is a bit of a change from my last post, but I've been thinking and researching since then). 800 pound gorilla tactic. (I don't recall the real name of this business tactic)

Also, I still stand by my assessment of court systems around the world. There are a few good victories here and there; but for every victory there are two failures. Just my opinion.

[Nate]

I will say though, I'm wondering if this was done due to the PS3 not being region encoded. This sends a message to all stores to not take advantage of price differences between countries.

Okay, now THAT I completely agree with, and I think you're probably right on that count.
[quote]Also, I still stand by my assessment of court systems around the world. There are a few good victories here and there]
I agree, but like I said before, it's Sony's right. Was it dirty of them to do? Yeah, probably, but it was legal. It's like how fansubbers cry when an anime company cracks down on 'em. Is it mean? Yes. Is it within the company's rights? Perfectly.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I agree, but like I said before, it's Sony's right. Was it dirty of them to do? Yeah, probably, but it was legal. It's like how fansubbers cry when an anime company cracks down on 'em. Is it mean? Yes. Is it within the company's rights? Perfectly.

While I will say it was dirty of Sony to do that (aka I'm agreeing with you) I am still highly disappointed over what Sony did.

So Hong Kong BROKE TRADEMARK LAW. What part of doing illegal business do you NOT understand? Sony has EVERY right to sue this company for breaking the law and flippantly telling Sony "we can break the law if we want." Further, the company didn't contest the case, meaning they KNEW they were wrong and would waste money by doing so.

I just assumed that Sony pulled that out of their butt, and used it for a cover-up for some other ulterior motive. But why a lik-sang representative did not appear, I don't know.

(Probably blackmail )

[Shinja]

i find it sad that our main sources come from wikipedia

[Cognitive Gear]

i find it sad that our main sources come from wikipedia

QFT. I remember when Stephen Colbert changed wikipedia to say that he always called oregon "Idaho's Portugal" as opposed to "California's Canada" or "Washington's Mexico". Or when he asked people to change it to say that the number of elephants in Africa has tripled in the last six months.

It's called wikiality.

[Destroyer2000]

I've noticed alot of bashing each other in this thread...and it's increasing on these boards, lately. Members that are usually calm and rational fly off the chain at the slightest remark. Very Christ-like, my friends.

[samuraidragon]

Sarcasm isn't the best way to illustrate this.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

::Edited::