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Lik-Sang Loses Sony PSP Import Battle

By Ed Oswald, BetaNews

October 19, 2006, 4:59 PM

Sony said Thursday that it had prevailed in a so-called "gray importing" case against a Hong Kong-based company who was selling PlayStation Portable gaming systems intended for the Japanese market in Europe. The company, Lik-Sang, sold the systems before the PSP officially launched in the region last September.

At the time, Lik-Sang defended its actions by accusing Sony of attempting to "cut hardcore gamers away from items released in Japan or anywhere else outside their own country," adding "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."

A British High Court judge ruled that Lik-Sang was in violation of intellectual property laws by offering the consoles. The company had maintained that it was operating within the law since it had no presence within the region, and is only based in Hong Kong.

However, Judge Michael Fysh said the lawbreaking occurred within the European region, and not Hong Kong, and it occurred without the consent of Sony. Thus, Fysh upheld the company's charges.

Sony claims it is working in the best interests of the consumer. For example, in the case of the upcoming PS3, which is sure to develop a black market as well, European Blu-ray movies will not play on the Japanese version of the console, it said.

Lik-Sang had no public comment on the ruling available as of press time.

Add a Comment (6 Comments)

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By w_tanoto

edited Oct 22, 2006 - 1:19 PM

Stupid sony!!
How about asians who lives in europe, but have all japanese games??????? Do they even think about it?
FYI, I got Japanese PSP and 2 Japanese PS2s
If they let lik-sang to deliver to UK, with condition that they can send it after PS3 launch in the region, then i'll better wait for it than buying european PS3. Blu-ray? No problem..
Voltage difference?????? NO PROBLEM. How come I use Jap PS2 in UK?? Use step-down.

Score: 0

By mcbazza

posted Oct 20, 2006 - 12:09 PM

Damn!
I got my Jap PSP from Lik-San when Electricbirdland had issues (who were then latter chased by Sony for selling import consoles).
Does this mean Sony will come after me next?

Sony would do better to concentrate on making their EU customers happier (ie. stop witholding products destined for us, and redistributing them to other areas), rather than telling us we are breaking the law for trying to self-import products prior to their official launch.

Score: 0

By JBman

edited Oct 19, 2006 - 9:46 PM

Holy crap! "judge smokes crack and accepts bribes to levy a ruling against lik-sang... again!"

OK, so that may not be the case, but at what point did selling consoles in a legitimate fashion (ie: they were not stolen but paid for... twice) become and _Intellectual_Property_ case?

And why didnt it occur to the judge and $ony that there very well may be japanese people living in Europe who would want a japanese console to play japanese games, perhaps even the first day said console was available?

Ah well, this just pushes it further "underground". Stopping lik-sang isnt going to appease any agenda $ony might have, and grey market will become black market where there are real financial losses to the manufacturer.

BTW: how do I go about editing my site so people in Europe cant buy my products? Wouldnt that kind of take the "world wide" out of www?

Score: 0

By zee7

posted Oct 19, 2006 - 8:21 PM

Keep it up, Sony! You guys are doing everything you can to keep buyers *away* from your products! The name of your company has become synonymous with greed, lawsuits, root kits, exploding batteries, and maniacal exortion tactics against copyright infringers, who, incidentally, happen to be your customers. Way to go! I'll bet your stockholders are in 7th heaven.

Score: 0

By The Man

posted Oct 19, 2006 - 5:55 PM

almost seems like racism.

Score: 0

By Sendai

edited Oct 20, 2006 - 5:16 PM

Oh, for the love of....This is just damn stupid. I really don't see why Sony cares who buys their products wherever if they're willing to pay the exorbitant prices to import them to begin with. I used to be a Sony fanboi when it came to the game consoles, but anymore it's like they're proactively trying to alienate their consumers; or at least that's how I feel.

Score: 0

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