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Sony admits its directors bought 'illegal' PSPs

Published on 30th October 2006 by Wil Harris

The PSP is at the heart of the import row.

Sony has admitted to the BBC that its directors bought PSPs from Lik-Sang, the website which it recently had prosecuted for illegal importing.

The legal battle cost Lik-Sang so much the website had to cease trading, leaving thousands of customers around the world without their fix of imported gaming kit.

Lik-Sang said that:

"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 14 December 2004,"

Sony replied:

"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."

Sony doesn't actually confirm that the directors were actually acting under investigation, only that it thinks they would have been. This looks decidedly non-commital to us - why wouldn't Sony 100% deny the claim or 100% clarify it rather than leaving the waters muddy?

The saga rolls out, but the net result is still the same - UK owners can forget about importing the PS3, since Lik-Sang competitor Play-Asia has now also cancelled PS3 pre-orders for British customers.

Let us know what you think of the whole debacle over in the News Discussion forums.

8 Comments

Discuss in the forums Reply

Krazeh 30th October 2006, 13:41

I am a little confused as to why this is deemed to be news five days after the BBC posted it? If i didn't know better it would almost seem like you're trying to keep the Sony bashing going. :)

Lazlow 30th October 2006, 13:58

The only thing that struck me when reading the original article, was Lik-Sang's 'boasting' using customer information. I partly agree with Sony:

Quote:

Originally Posted by article
"We would also like to express our surprise at a company releasing personal information about its consumers."

I wouldn't want a retailer releasing my information on what I had purchased to the world. Surely it's against Data Protection? But as it's Sony, we can forgive them...

webbyman 30th October 2006, 15:55

roffle, 'investigatory purposes.'

now personally i think thats a kick up the arse for sony... however their comeback is rather amusing...

and depending on who they spoke too about the sony directors purchasing them i could well be against the data protection act...

however since lik-sang being a limited company? and liquidating? no fine is going to put them in any worse position than they are now.

edit: lol :) and look at all the sony hate posts on lik-sang :D

Warrior_Rocker 30th October 2006, 16:09

True, as the company is packing up its boxes and closing its doors I am sure some sour feelings towards sony slipped. Sony just cannot stay out of the press huh.

One thing to consider. Is any press good press for sony? I would think just getting sony and the ps3 into the minds of everyone on the planet is all they could hope for. Maybe the ps3 will sell better because of it.

webbyman 30th October 2006, 16:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Warrior_Rocker
True, as the company is packing up its boxes and closing its doors I am sure some sour feelings towards sony slipped. Sony just cannot stay out of the press huh.

One thing to consider. Is any press good press for sony? I would think just getting sony and the ps3 into the minds of everyone on the planet is all they could hope for. Maybe the ps3 will sell better because of it.

i think it must be reverse psychology...

They get everyone to hate the ps3 and dispise sony soo much, dispite consumers would buy it if sony wern't such ****s.. And in the end nobody can resist the temptation of what they now believe they want soooo much..?

Warrior_Rocker 30th October 2006, 16:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by webbyman
i think it must be reverse psychology...

They get everyone to hate the ps3 and dispise sony soo much, dispite consumers would buy it if sony wern't such ****s.. And in the end nobody can resist the temptation of what they now believe they want soooo much..?

If anyone follows southpark, recall the episode 'Cartmanland'
"And the best part is... nobody can come, especially stan and kyle".

All I can say about the ps3 is, it had better be good. Had better be damn good.

SNIPERMikeUK 30th October 2006, 18:22

Do we get screwed in the UK or it just me?

leexgx 30th October 2006, 19:58

yes we do