Sony initiates legal action against online retailer Lik-Sang

Sony initiates legal action against online retailer Lik-Sang

Maker of the popular Playstation Portable gaming device Sony has initiated legal actions against the online retailer Lik-Sang in the high court of Hong Kong. The charges are that Lik-Sang is selling PSP consoles to UK and European customers where Sony has not officially launched the gaming device and is going to release in later this year.

The suite has been filed by both Sony Computer Entertainment Europe and its parent company; Sony Computer Entertainment Inc and they claim that Lik-Sang has breached its trademark rights regarding the PSP by offering it for sale to the UK. In addition, Sony is also claiming infringement and seeking damages for the reproduction of the PSP manual on Lik-Sang’s site back in early June.

The company had then responded by removing the manual at Sony’s request on June 14. Sony is now asking the court an order to prevent the online retailer to stop selling Sony PSP gaming console in the European countries. They also want it to stop selling PSP games and other accessories, which might be picked up by people who have already purchased their PSPs from them or other sources.

Lik-Sang said in an official statement and a response to this lawsuit: “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. 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. Hong Kong, one of the pioneering countries respecting worldwide exhaustion of trademark rights, allows free trade once an item entered the market for sale.”