Sony has warned that it will take legal action against anyone engaging in grey importing of its products after scoring a High Court victory over online retailer Lik-Sang.
In his ruling yesterday, Judge Michael Fysh found that Lik-Sang - which offered Japanese PSPs to European consumers via its website - was in breach of intellectual property rights.
Lik-Sang had claimed that it was operating within the law as the company is based in Hong Kong, and has no trading presence in the UK or European Economic Area.
But, as reported by the Financial Times, Judge Fysh ruled that, "The acts of which the complaint is made have, in my view, been perpetrated not in Hong Kong but here in the EEA, and without Sony's consent."
Sony declined to comment directly on the case. However, a spokesperson did tell GI.biz: "The law is clear; grey importing PS2, PSP or PS3 into the EU, without the express permission of SCE is illegal. Therefore, we will utilise the full scope of the law to put a stop to any retailers who chose to do this."
Charging for early access has started to become a regular practice in several AAA games, and the gaming community should not tolerate this.
Don’t uh… don’t pay for it then? 🤷♂️ It’s 3 days early, let people who can’t wait pony up to pay for early access. I’d hope people have more control over themselves if they don’t want to pay extra. I personally, do not see an issue with the option. If I’m hyped for a game and they give you early access, I’ll pay. If it’s something I can wait to play on “actual release” I won’t pay extra. It’s as simple as that.
Except your entirely mistaken if you think it's "early access"
Theyre just charging you extra to play it on release. So gullible.
"Theyre just charging you extra to play it on release. So gullible."
Not really.
In some cases, paying for early access will grant you access to play those games at the same time media outlets and reviewers are playing their copies.
Besides, it´s a single player game. It´s not like early access to MP competitive games like Battlefield which EA would grant a full week early access to those willing to pay; which gives a unfair advantage to those gamers and breaks the game´s balance.
are you playing it earlier than retail release?
If that’s the correct answer, how is it not early access?
It's not early access...it's playing on release...early access is when the game isn't finished and needs a little more time...you also get it months in advance.
Let's not get confused here..
Microsoft has been doing premium edition early access for awhile(Forza and Starfield recently) ...so why is it an issue now when Ubisoft does it?
It can't be the gamepass excuse as Ubisoft has day one subscriptions as well.
I´ve paid for Starfield´s Premium Edition to get early access to the game, plus Shattered Space expansion.
I don´t regret my decision and I mighty pay for it again to get early access to Fable and TESVI.
as long as people are paying for it, it will be a thing unfortunately.
the fear of missing out is ... huge. especially online.
I don’t think it’s about missing out. Think of it like a movie you’re hyped for. You can see it early if you pay extra or just wait until Friday when it officially releases.
It’s nothing more than that.
Huzaifah from eXputer: "Sleeping Dogs from the early 2010s is one of the best open-world games out there but in dire need of a resurgence."
You say "yet" as if it's even possible anymore. United Front Games is gone, along with anyone that made this game what it is
That’s what happens when games sell poorly. And I’ve seen people wonder why people cry when a game sells badly… this is your answer.
Majority of the time it's true but if a company/publisher is big (in terms of money), they can take a hit or 2. e.g. I am not worried about Rebirth sales as Square will make Remake 3 anyway but if FF 17 doesn't sell then Square might need to look for alternative. <-- my humble opinion
Sleeping Dogs was a sleeper hit back then. It was fantastic. It actually still is. Would love a sequel to this, or at least a revive of True Crime series.
Grasshopper Manufacture's Shadows of the Damned returns this year with a remaster, and Hardcore Gamer got to talk with Suda51 about it, among other things...
Sony finally wins a lawsuit and I'm sure people are going to be mad that this is the one they win...
What the hell? They sued a website for selling videogames to other countries? I don't get this at ALL
Meh, that's lame.
I hope it won't be the same for games, because i don't see the point of making the PS3 region free then =/
Sony didn't make the PS3 region free for gamers. They made it region free for developers and its another argument for use of their blu-ray disc capacity. All games on one disc regardless of region means they can "stamp" out disc's faster as they won't need to change out the software being put on disc, etc.
That said, with the prices varying in each country and exchange rates being better for some than others Sony would "lose" money as would developers if they let people mass import games from other regions that give them a favorable exchange rate.
If I was to own a PS3 for the first 2 months and for some reason I did not like it. Why couldn't I sell it to somebody over seas that's willing to pay the price to get it from me? Would that be illegal to sell what I do not want?
Anyhow it sounds dumb...wether they are not sony is being profitable, as a comsumer I'm out looking for the best bang for my bucks even if it means importing.
No wonder sony has screwed the rest of the world over when they slashed thier prices in thier own backyard.