ani4ani
Prominent Member
You know its a real shame that these forums just denegrate into slamming and personal attack. I am sharing my opinion, you can disagree with it or put an alternative view. I import and export for a living and so I know the pitfalls of selling goods through unofficial channels, failing to sell at constant prices and failing to declare accurate profits and pay the appropriate taxes. I also undertand the corporate liabilities asscociated with injury and damage to thrid parties, with my products however they arose in that market. They are my products and I am responsible for compliance, not the retailer or the importer. The law is very rarely how we would like it. Ignorance is no defence in European Law. In fact, ignorance will probably compound the damages you are likely to pay.
First and foremost, you don't have to believe me or listen to me, but may I remind you that this company was found guilty in a court of law, i.e. what they were doing was found to be illegal - period. We can all feel sorry for the little guy here, but the law doesn't.
Now to answer some specific comments.
How can a game be illegal across territories - that is simple, content. Certain things are forbidden in one country to another. When the game Return to Castle Wolfenstien was first conceived it was the "Nazi's v the Allies." The word Nazi is frowned upon in many countries, e.g. Germany and France and so it was changed to Axis v Allies.
Wasn't the PSP made in the same factory for the world? well yes, and if you read my original post, this is exactly what I said. However, just as I make all my products in my factory, I still have to perform tests and produce certificates [all very different, I may add] for the destination. These tests carry cost and liabilities. If I said my product had been tested to Japanese law, and it hadn't I would be in breach of the Law and be liable.
Will the US PS3 not work in Europe? Simple answer, no, not as intended! It will not play region 2 SD DVD's and will not read Region B Blu Ray. It will not carry a European warranty or the appropriate power supply. You and me on these forums know that, but for the less well informed member of the public, if they should acquire this product, knowingly or not, may assume that he has a faulty unit when his Shrek DVD doesn't work. He will wander down to his local Sony Centre for a replacement or a fix. Why should Sony undertake that expense for a product that actually works quite well where it was supposed to be sold, but not here because it was never intended to be sold here?
Finally, Sony, by turning a blind eye to the activities of this company could be accused of purposely flouting European Law. Microsoft have tried to deliberately flout European Law for the last 6 years - see what good that did them.
The last point. Lik-Sang, sold products from 100's of companies. Ask yourself this. If all they had to do, was stop selling products from Sony, how can that put them out of business? They were apparently free to sell all these other products? [I doubt it actually, because since this ruling, they would have been liable for anything they were selling on this basis from dozens of similar compainies].
"this is all down to money... nothing else..." Of course its down to money ***!
Slam all you like...but this is the reality. Bib Bob, you haven't a clue what your talking about re the law and how it is applied. You might like to think what I say is ridicoulous and post to that effect, but you are quite wrong I am afraid.
First and foremost, you don't have to believe me or listen to me, but may I remind you that this company was found guilty in a court of law, i.e. what they were doing was found to be illegal - period. We can all feel sorry for the little guy here, but the law doesn't.
Now to answer some specific comments.
How can a game be illegal across territories - that is simple, content. Certain things are forbidden in one country to another. When the game Return to Castle Wolfenstien was first conceived it was the "Nazi's v the Allies." The word Nazi is frowned upon in many countries, e.g. Germany and France and so it was changed to Axis v Allies.
Wasn't the PSP made in the same factory for the world? well yes, and if you read my original post, this is exactly what I said. However, just as I make all my products in my factory, I still have to perform tests and produce certificates [all very different, I may add] for the destination. These tests carry cost and liabilities. If I said my product had been tested to Japanese law, and it hadn't I would be in breach of the Law and be liable.
Will the US PS3 not work in Europe? Simple answer, no, not as intended! It will not play region 2 SD DVD's and will not read Region B Blu Ray. It will not carry a European warranty or the appropriate power supply. You and me on these forums know that, but for the less well informed member of the public, if they should acquire this product, knowingly or not, may assume that he has a faulty unit when his Shrek DVD doesn't work. He will wander down to his local Sony Centre for a replacement or a fix. Why should Sony undertake that expense for a product that actually works quite well where it was supposed to be sold, but not here because it was never intended to be sold here?
Finally, Sony, by turning a blind eye to the activities of this company could be accused of purposely flouting European Law. Microsoft have tried to deliberately flout European Law for the last 6 years - see what good that did them.
The last point. Lik-Sang, sold products from 100's of companies. Ask yourself this. If all they had to do, was stop selling products from Sony, how can that put them out of business? They were apparently free to sell all these other products? [I doubt it actually, because since this ruling, they would have been liable for anything they were selling on this basis from dozens of similar compainies].
"this is all down to money... nothing else..." Of course its down to money ***!
Slam all you like...but this is the reality. Bib Bob, you haven't a clue what your talking about re the law and how it is applied. You might like to think what I say is ridicoulous and post to that effect, but you are quite wrong I am afraid.