Sony sues Lik-Sang in Hong Kong over PSP shipments to Europe

More fallout over the Lik Sang case:

Popular online retailer Lik-Sang has announced that Sony Computer Entertainment has initiated legal action against it in the high court of Hong Kong for selling PSP consoles to UK and European customers.

The action, taken jointly by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and its parent company, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc, alleges that Lik-Sang has breached its trademark rights regarding the PSP by offering it for sale to the UK.

Curiously, it also claims infringement and seeks damages for the reproduction of the PSP manual on Lik-Sang's site back in early June - a matter which was assumed settled when Lik-Sang removed the manual at Sony's request on June 14th.

Sony is seeking a court order against Lik-Sang which would prevent the retailer from selling the PSP, its games and its accessories to customers in the UK and the European Economic Area.

This is just the latest in a series of legal actions against importers of PSP hardware taken by Sony in the run up to the system's September 1st launch in this territory - but while the firm has had considerable success in cracking down on importers in the UK, Lik-Sang believes that it'll be a different story in Hong Kong.

"This lawsuit comes as a complete surprise to Lik-Sang.com, given that the laws of Hong Kong are clear when it comes to parallel trade," an official statement from the retailer reads.

"Hong Kong's legislation is based on the fact that allowing parallel and free trade will restore natural competition and benefit consumers with lower prices," it continues. "Hong Kong, one of the pioneering countries respecting worldwide exhaustion of trademark rights, allows free trade once an item entered the market for sale."

The retailer plans to fight the case in the courts, and says that it is currently looking into options to combat the action. It also plans to continue selling PSPs to customers overseas for the moment - having last month announced an offer which provides worldwide free shipping on PSP hardware until September 1st.

"This is the most aggressive move against its own customers that a console manufacturer has taken in the 30 year history of videogames," commented Lik-Sang marketing manager Pascal Clarysse. "Sony wants to completely cut hardcore gamers away from items released in Japan or anywhere else outside their own country. 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."

Lik-Sang needs to countersue. Sony might have the most powerful lawyers in the land, but I bet if LS started a fundraiser they could get a nice amount of money for a good lawyer.

I've never liked the idea of releasing products later in certain countries. Is there really any reason to have the UK wait forever for the psp? The region system for movies is also just as stupid. Same movie, but you can only play it in a certain country. For what? To keep you from buying a cheaper version somewhere else? For products that are not being changed for certain markets, just release it worldwide at the same time. Stop jerking customers around.

Agreed mooboy, there is no excuse for releasing it 9 months after japan AND overcharging. How much is 180 pounds in US dollars again?

No matter how many or how good the lawyers that Sony has are they can't change how the law works, and what Lik-Sang did and does is not illegal under any term. The only thing they have to abide is by their country's laws and taxes, nothing more.

I like Sony products alot, but the management and the "high suits" have been making some really shitty moves lately which only disgust me. I just hope that what they have isn't contagious and won't hit the design or engineering teams that truly make Sony a good company.

Sony should be happy that they are selling stock, instead of penalising Lik-Sang. I for one, am happy to have had my PSP since it's release in Japan and would gladly do it again for any item.
Why should we in UK/Europe be made to wait so long to catch up with the rest of the world?