The popular online gaming retailer from Hong Kong Lik-Sang.com, has announced that is has been forced to close down due to multiple legal actions against it by both Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Sony did this because they judge that the retailer infringed its trade marks, copyrights and registered design right by selling Sony’s PSP handhelds from Asia to Europeans. Not only Sony seems to think so, because a judge in the the High Court of Londen (England) judged that the selling of PSP consoles in this way is unlawful.

Lik-Sang.com will no longer accept new orders and will attempt to refund all orders already paid for. In order to do this Lik-Sang is working with banks and PayPal. Besides refunds, the store’s customer department is also handling pending RMAs, repairs and shipping related matters.

Sony responded on Gamesindustry.biz to the closure denying any responsibility for the closure of Lik-Sang - accusing the online retailer of sour grapes.

“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,”

“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.”

What is remarkable is the fact that Sony’s executives also bought PSPs at Lik-Sang. The list of PSP related Sony Europe orders contains many well known names from 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.

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.. I really wonder if this many executives had to order at the retailer just for investigatory purposes.

Pascal Clarysse, formerly known as the Marketing Manager of Lik-Sang.com had some strong words to say to Sony:

“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”,

“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.”

Thanks to j0k3r360 for submitting this news.