Hong Kong- based importer Lik-Sang has posted a somewhat long (and angry) notice on its web site that due to lawsuits brought onto them by Sony they have no choice but to go out of business. Sony had originally took action against them for exporting Japanese PSPs to the UK shortly before the official release. Last week a high court judge ruled against Lik-Sang, effectively blocking the sales, despite arguements of not breaking any Hong Kong laws.

Pascal Clarysse, Marketing Manager of Lik-Sang.com argued, "Fighting multiple lawsuits in different countries at the same time and paying high premiums to expensive lawyers is an overwhelming situation for a small company like Lik Sang. Launching separate court actions with separate claims and different judges is completely unnecessary, except for the fact that it helps reaching one single target: outspend Lik-Sang to death. Pay beyond." Between the lawsuits and being unable to sell Sony products in Europe it was nowhere near profitable enough to continue operation. In a somewhat scathing final statement several Sony European execs were listed as having bought from them in the past. Oopsy!

Keep in mind Sony said before they would do what they could to "protect consumers from being sold hardware that does not conform to strict European Union or UK consumer safety standards." As such "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."

Meantime Sony has issued a response to game news site gameindustry.biz: "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."

And as for the bit about SCEE execs buying from them? "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."

This is very childish from Sony, what with the crap they have given the Europeans over the PS3 release they get onto Ebay about PS3 sales, forcing them to pull all PS3 sales until the seller has 100% receipt proof along with an non-doctor photograph of the seller holding the PS3. I have used Lik Sang since they opened for many a good item & the "illegal" sales to the Europeans of the PSP was properly child throwing toys out of it's pram and now this. It makes me wonder if Sony are in real trouble over the PS3 and trying to recoupe losses before it is on general sale.

Nice one Sony!