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Rapture1984

No chance of an import PS3

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Just found this on the BBC News website

 

Sony to 'block PS3 Euro imports'

 

Sony will be blocking attempts to import the console

Sony has said it will use the "full scope of the law" to block the importing of PlayStation 3s (PS3) into Europe before its official release.

The much-anticipated games console goes on sale in the US and Japan next month but is not out in Europe until 2007.

 

Last week a British judge ruled that Taiwanese import/export firm Lik-Sang could not sell the Japanese version of Sony's handheld PSP in Europe.

 

The case sets a precedent for would-be importers of PlayStation 3 consoles.

 

A spokesman for Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) told the BBC: "The law is clear, and grey importing PS2, PSP or PS3 into the EU, without the express permission of SCEE is illegal.

 

"Therefore, we will utilise the full scope of the law to put a stop to any retailers who chose to do this."

 

 

The PlayStation 3 has cost billions of dollars to produce

 

Critics of Sony's approach feel that the electronics giant is preventing gamers in Europe from getting their hands on PlayStation 3s early, even if they have to pay a hefty premium.

 

The spokesman said: "Ultimately, we're trying to protect consumers from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict EU or UK consumer safety standards."

 

He pointed out that the Japanese or American PS3 models would not play older European-sold software for the first two PlayStations, would not play EU Blu-ray movies or DVDs, and would not be covered by a warranty.

 

The decision to delay the release of the PS3 in Europe - due to stock shortages of vital components for the machine's Blu-ray player - came as a blow to players in the world's second-biggest games market.

 

The machine will be released in Europe in March, while it goes on sale on November 17 in the US and November 11 in Japan.

 

They really don't want us Europeans getting our dirty hands on their shiny consoles!

 

The story can be found here

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They tried to do the same with the PSP as well. The console will still get through though. They can't check the parcels :)

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The only thing they can do is get retailers to pull the consoles off the websites, but i haven't seen that happen at all with the PSP.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Hong Kong, October 24th of 2006 - Lik-Sang.com, the popular gaming retailer from Hong Kong, has today announced that it is forced to close down due to multiple legal actions brought against it by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Sony claimed that Lik-Sang infringed its trade marks, copyright and registered design rights by selling Sony PSP consoles from Asia to European customers, and have recently obtained a judgment in the High Court of London (England) rendering Lik-Sang's sales of PSP consoles unlawful.

 

As of today, Lik-Sang.com will not be in the position to accept any new orders and will cancel and refund all existing orders that have already been placed. Furthermore, Lik-Sang is working closely with banks and PayPal to refund any store credits held by the company, and the customer support department is taking care of any open transactions such as pending RMAs or repairs and shipping related matters. The staff of Lik-Sang will make sure that nobody will get hurt in the crossfire of this ordeal.

 

A Sony spokesperson declined to comment directly on the lawsuit against Lik-Sang, but recently went on to tell Gamesindustry.biz that "ultimately, we're 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 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 with free Lik-Sang Mugs or Lik-Sang Badge Holders, starting just two days after Japan's official release, as early as 14th of December 2004 (more than nine months earlier than the legal action). The list of PSP related Sony Europe orders reads like the who's who of the videogames industry, and includes Ray Maguire (Managing Director, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd), Alan Duncan (UK Marketing Director, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd), Chris Sorrell (Creative Director, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd), Rob Parkin (Development Director, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited), just to name a few.

 

"Today is Sony Europe victory about PSP, tomorrow is Sony Europe’s ongoing pressure about PlayStation 3. With this precedent set, next week could already be the stage for complaints from Sony America about the same thing, or from other console manufacturers about other consoles to other regions, or even from any publisher about any specific software title to any country they don’t see fit. It’s the beginning of the end... of the World as we know it", stated Pascal Clarysse, formerly known as the Marketing Manager of Lik-Sang.com.

 

"Blame it on Sony. That's the latest dark spot in their shameful track record as gaming industry leader. The Empire finally 'won', few dominating retailers from the UK probably will rejoice the news, but everybody else in the gaming world lost something today."

 

Dirty scum bags, thats where i buy most of my games.

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Maybe we'll see Lik-sang come back in another form?

I've never used lik-sang before, but if by what sony have done theyve stopped all sales from lik-sang, including non sony stuff, then thats just frickin great!!

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:cry:

 

those fucking bastards!!! all for the sake of a few extra quid and more accurate 'sales' figures.

 

hope you die sony!

 

even at its most arrogant i never remember Nintendo doing something so detrimental to gamers and to their own sales figures.

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Wow, there are more and more signs that Sony actually is run by Satan...

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:cry:

 

those fucking bastards!!! all for the sake of a few extra quid and more accurate 'sales' figures.

 

hope you die sony!

 

even at its most arrogant i never remember Nintendo doing something so detrimental to gamers and to their own sales figures.

 

Well there was the illegal pricing of european games in the 1990's. What was that about anyway?

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I didn't think I could hate sony more after E3 06, but they just keep on impressing me with how much there is possible to hate a company. IN-F*****G-INCREDIBLE!

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ANOTHER reason to hate sony...

 

its like the morrisons adverts - Reason 65 - they made lik-sang close down

 

i have brought some stuff off lik-sang in the past i thought they were a decent and relible webby :(

 

cheers sony *twats*

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First the holocaust and now this!

 

Your posts are just funny upon funny lately.

 

Now Lik-Sang are shutting down? What next? Play-asia, yes-asia, or maybe even VG+. Sony are getting some serious stick for this.

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In a statement issued to our sister-site GamesIndustry.biz, Sony has denied any responsibility for the closure of Lik-Sang - accusing the online retailer of "sour grapes".

 

The statement begins by observing that Sony Computer Entertainment has successfully sued Pacific Game Technology, which uses Lik-Sang as one of its trading names, for infringing intellectual property rights.

 

"Lik-Sang did not contest this case (i.e. they did not turn up and therefore incurred no legal costs). We have been awarded substantial costs against Lik-Sang which have not been paid," the statement claims.

 

"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 which is aimed to belittle Sony Computer Entertainment and the British judicial system that found against them."

 

Earlier today, Lik-Sang announced it was going out of business, citing a series of lawsuits filed by Sony as the reason for the closure. The retailer also alleged that several SCE executives purchased import PSP hardware and software on its website.

 

Sony responded, "The purchasing of PSP consoles by SCE employees would be for investigatory purposes. We would also like to express our surprise at a company releasing personal information about its consumers, as this is contrary to data protection principles around the world."

 

Eurogamer.net

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ANOTHER reason to hate sony...

 

its like the morrisons adverts - Reason 65 - they made lik-sang close down

 

You've just given me an idea...

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Sony responded, "The purchasing of PSP consoles by SCE employees would be for investigatory purposes. We would also like to express our surprise at a company releasing personal information about its consumers, as this is contrary to data protection principles around the world."

 

And yet, that is exaclty what Sony demanded they did. They wanted names and addresses of every single person in the UK that imported a PSP

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Why did they want names and addresses? Are they tracking down importers and confiscating them now? Bastards.

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Why did they want names and addresses? Are they tracking down importers and confiscating them now? Bastards.

 

Yeah...for the saftey of consumers. They were going to blow up you see..and Sony was disgusted by the behaviour of someone selling faulty Sony products :heh: :wink:

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