I just love a corporate pissing match.

Earlier today, in a bit of theatrical teeth-gnashing, Lik-Sang announced they were shuttering their online store because of Sony's multiple legal actions against them for selling Playstation Portables from Asia to people in Europe. Now, I don't in anyway support the lawsuits Sony filed, I've purchased my share of games from Lik-Sang, but I think Lik-Sang was a bit over the top in their response.

"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.'"

And then, after a few hours, comes Sony's response filled with typical outrage and bluster, but also a few interesting tidbits. In the statement, sent to Games Industry, Sony points out that while they have successfully sued Pacific Game Technology, which owns Lik-Sang, they haven't received a dime and that the company didn't bother to show up to court to fight it.

"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."

OK, I get that, but then Sony claims that the oodles of PSPs that a number of SCE execs purchased through Lik-Sang were just purchased for "investigatory" purposes.

"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."

Oh, customer privacy. Good one. It's like watching a tennis match. Come on Lik-Sang, what do you have to say about that... oh and how about printing those execs' credit card numbers too. Brian Crecente

Sony denies responsibility for closure of Lik-Sang [GI]

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