Online Game Retailer Lik-Sang Closes Following Sony Court Victories

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 25, 2006 - 1:54pm.

Hong Kong - Hong Kong-based online game retailer Lik-Sang has announced plans to shut down, following its defeat in several U.K. lawsuits filed by Sony that targeted the company's sale of imported Japanese PSP handheld game devices to customers in Europe.

"Blame it on Sony," Pascal Clarysse, former marketing manager for Lik-Sang, said in a statement. "That's the latest dark spot in their shameful track record as gaming industry leader. The 'empire' finally won. A few dominating retailers from the U.K. probably will rejoice (in) the news, but everybody else in the gaming world lost something today."

Sony disputed Lik-Sang's characterization of the events. "Lik-Sang did not contest this case (i.e. they did not turn up and therefore incurred no legal costs)," the company told GamesIndustry.biz. "We have been awarded substantial costs against Lik-Sang which have not been paid. We would therefore strongly deny that our actions have had anything to do with this website closing (we assume the legal entity is still trading), and would suggest that this release is sour grapes on behalf of Lik-Sang." Sony added that it will take action against any other retailers involved in the "gray importing" of its products between territories.

Related Links:
http://www.lik-sang.com/news.php?artc=3901
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=20561
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/content_page.php?aid=20564
http://tinyurl.com/slyvf (CNET)
http://www.lik-sang.com