PS3 Slim Confirmed? Lawyers Demand SPOnG Removes Pix
Fanboy fakery does not a legal threat produce.
Posted 18 May 2009
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Over the weekend we received a politely threatening email from a firm of Taiwan-based lawyers asking us to remove the story entitled 'New Slim PlayStation 3 Pix Torn Down', which we we ran on May 14th.
Not only were we asked to remove the entire web page in question - which included comment from analysts on the potential for a new, slim, PS3 - we were also asked to keep the request from the lawyers, acting on behalf of an unnamed client, hushed up.
We're comfortable enough removing images from the story as they could have been obtained illegally. We are not, however, going to be gagged in our reporting of threats made against us on behalf of an unnamed company via its lawyers.
In fact, the whole thing looks to have backfired on both attorney and client (which, until we are told otherwise, we assume to be a Chinese or Taiwanese fabrication plant). In the original story, we said: "these images could be more indicative of a newer, cheaper, console. Of course, they could also be the idle fakery of someone who appears to love truly ugly machines."
It appears now that the latter is false: nobody hires lawyers to defend the confidentiality of Internet-posted fake photos. Unless the images did indicate some form of existing, alternative PS3 design, nobody threatens a website for reporting on such images.
We are obviously now trying to discover whether the images in question are of an ancient prototype PlayStation 3 or of a new PS3 Slim or something else entirely.
The text of the legal threat reads:
"Dear Sirs,
As appointed by our client, we hereby inform you that the web pages on your website (as attached hereto) contain some of our client's confidential documents and photos, which were highly possibly illegally released and posted.
We are investigating this violation and will bring all necessary legal actions regarding this matter. In order to protect the confidential information and prevent you from further legal issues and infringements, please immediately remove those pages and keep our request confidential. Thank you for your cooperation.
Your cooperation is deeply appreciated.
Very truly yours
James Lan
For the firm
Attorney-at-law
Li Mo & Associates"
Not only were we asked to remove the entire web page in question - which included comment from analysts on the potential for a new, slim, PS3 - we were also asked to keep the request from the lawyers, acting on behalf of an unnamed client, hushed up.
We're comfortable enough removing images from the story as they could have been obtained illegally. We are not, however, going to be gagged in our reporting of threats made against us on behalf of an unnamed company via its lawyers.
In fact, the whole thing looks to have backfired on both attorney and client (which, until we are told otherwise, we assume to be a Chinese or Taiwanese fabrication plant). In the original story, we said: "these images could be more indicative of a newer, cheaper, console. Of course, they could also be the idle fakery of someone who appears to love truly ugly machines."
It appears now that the latter is false: nobody hires lawyers to defend the confidentiality of Internet-posted fake photos. Unless the images did indicate some form of existing, alternative PS3 design, nobody threatens a website for reporting on such images.
We are obviously now trying to discover whether the images in question are of an ancient prototype PlayStation 3 or of a new PS3 Slim or something else entirely.
The text of the legal threat reads:
"Dear Sirs,
As appointed by our client, we hereby inform you that the web pages on your website (as attached hereto) contain some of our client's confidential documents and photos, which were highly possibly illegally released and posted.
We are investigating this violation and will bring all necessary legal actions regarding this matter. In order to protect the confidential information and prevent you from further legal issues and infringements, please immediately remove those pages and keep our request confidential. Thank you for your cooperation.
Your cooperation is deeply appreciated.
Very truly yours
James Lan
For the firm
Attorney-at-law
Li Mo & Associates"
Comments
Showing the most recent 20 comments. Go to the forum to read all 33 comments
15/33
@haritori
No I completely agree with you, the second these pictures hit the public domain they became public, LevelUp placed them up, as far as it seems they would be the first.
Spong has done nothing wrong, but wish them good luck either ways, these things can always turn sour very easily.
No I completely agree with you, the second these pictures hit the public domain they became public, LevelUp placed them up, as far as it seems they would be the first.
Spong has done nothing wrong, but wish them good luck either ways, these things can always turn sour very easily.
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16/33
Mog wrote:
lol, Spong, seriously... Put the images back up, this is ridiculous. lol.
What do you mean "back"?
http://news.spong.com/article/17950/PS3_Slim_-_More_Pix_from_Torn_Site
Different story...
Mog wrote:
The document looks pretty fake, and why would a Law firm that deals in Immigration law be contacting you about Trade secret infringements?
Here is the link to Li Mo & Associates web page:
http://www.lirulaw.com/en/aboutUs.html
Here is the link to Li Mo & Associates web page:
http://www.lirulaw.com/en/aboutUs.html
Wrong set of lawyers, mate.
Mog wrote:
You seriously think Sony would employ these to cover up anything about a PS3?
Nope - and we didn't say that... I reckon it's the Fab in China or Taiwan.
Mog wrote:
Spong, rest easy!
We currently are - aside from me, I've been in and out of the lav' all day with some stomach bug. I like to share info.
Cheers
Tim
17/33
Mog wrote:
@haritori
No I completely agree with you, the second these pictures hit the public domain they became public, LevelUp placed them up, as far as it seems they would be the first.
Spong has done nothing wrong, but wish them good luck either ways, these things can always turn sour very easily.
No I completely agree with you, the second these pictures hit the public domain they became public, LevelUp placed them up, as far as it seems they would be the first.
Spong has done nothing wrong, but wish them good luck either ways, these things can always turn sour very easily.
Cheers guys! YOu might also like to see: http://news.spong.com/article/17950/PS3_Slim_-_More_Pix_from_Torn_Site
A different story entirely from the same day.
Cheers
Tim
PS: anybody got a good cure for stomach-wrenching nightmare bugs?
18/33
@frog
Aye, but is it Sony who is behind it?
This will all be pretty interesting to see now, previously I would have thought nothing of it because that unit looks really shoddy, lol
It will be interesting to see what happens with this thing, or if it falls completely silent
But to be honest Spong did do something silly though, did you notice the "keep our request confidential", lol. Don't think there is any rule against actually doing that though, its more of a request than an order, no real Law to prevent it.
Aye, but is it Sony who is behind it?
This will all be pretty interesting to see now, previously I would have thought nothing of it because that unit looks really shoddy, lol
It will be interesting to see what happens with this thing, or if it falls completely silent
But to be honest Spong did do something silly though, did you notice the "keep our request confidential", lol. Don't think there is any rule against actually doing that though, its more of a request than an order, no real Law to prevent it.
19/33
This whole article is b******s.
20/33
@Tim
Whiskey, drop of boiling water, squeeze of lemon juice and add in some honey, stirr and drink. You will be feeling better in no time ^^
PS- I did find the corrent law firm eventually xD
Whiskey, drop of boiling water, squeeze of lemon juice and add in some honey, stirr and drink. You will be feeling better in no time ^^
PS- I did find the corrent law firm eventually xD
21/33
This link threw me off about you pulling down your pics:
http://news.spong.com/article/17945/LEGAL_UPDATE_New_Slim_PlayStation_3_Pix_Torn_Down
http://news.spong.com/article/17945/LEGAL_UPDATE_New_Slim_PlayStation_3_Pix_Torn_Down
22/33
Mog wrote:
@Tim
Whiskey, drop of boiling water, squeeze of lemon juice and add in some honey, stirr and drink. You will be feeling better in no time ^^
PS- I did find the corrent law firm eventually xD
Whiskey, drop of boiling water, squeeze of lemon juice and add in some honey, stirr and drink. You will be feeling better in no time ^^
PS- I did find the corrent law firm eventually xD
Nice one Mog, cheers for that.
Tim
23/33
frog wrote:
the right way to address a rumour is the engage us and outlets, not get all legal on our asses
Absolutely. This is one reason I'm sure that Sony isn't in this particular loop. They would most certainly have simply let the tale die or issued a "It's simply rumour and speculation".
frog wrote:
whatever happened to the "relations" bit of pr?
Still bubbling away. In fact, according to a recent 'debate' PR and journalists are all just the same, but different sides of the same coin. Ahhh, lovely.
Me arse.
Cheers
Tim
24/33
Oh yeah, that sounds like it's really written by a real lawyer. "which were highly possibly illegally released". Who wrote that line, a 5 year old? It's not even proper english.
25/33
@lol Oo! Oo! I can deflect that one! English isn't the issuing lawyer's mother tongue.
26/33
If its legit, sounds like someone is worried.
We could do with a PS3 Slim, I'd perhaps buy one then.
We could do with a PS3 Slim, I'd perhaps buy one then.
27/33
damn. i agree, when someone gets the lawyers involved it usually means s**t is real. i thought it was fake though. craziness.
28/33
KADARE wrote:
damn. i agree, when someone gets the lawyers involved it usually means s**t is real. i thought it was fake though. craziness.
Never fear - there are some genuine fakes over here...
cheers
Tim
29/33
I think it's silly to assume the latter to be false just because some hired a lawyer it's perfectly reasonable to assume that a company which was producing knockoffs panicked and tried to hush you before this got Sony's full attention.
30/33
It's pretty simple isn't it? This is a cheap knock-off product (trust me these things are all over SE and E Asia--I remember seeing a "Super PolyStation 2" that looked just like a PS2 until you realised that you had to 'pop' the hood and play cartridge games). These guys are probably trying to quash the media frenzy lest they suffer the wrath of Sony's lawyers.
I mean, I find it really unlikely that this is the PS3 Slim.
I mean, I find it really unlikely that this is the PS3 Slim.
31/33
@Az Whoops, didn't notice the comment above me before posting! But yeah, that's the idea.
32/33
http://i40.tinypic.com/2rncx0o.jpg - part 1 sony rep Talk Real Deal.
http://i43.tinypic.com/xehbhg.jpg - part 2 sony rep Talk Real Deal.
http://i41.tinypic.com/16lej4m.jpg - part 3 sony rep Talk Real Deal.
http://i43.tinypic.com/xehbhg.jpg - part 2 sony rep Talk Real Deal.
http://i41.tinypic.com/16lej4m.jpg - part 3 sony rep Talk Real Deal.
33/33
lou wrote:
http://i40.tinypic.com/2rncx0o.jpg - part 1 sony rep Talk Real Deal.
http://i43.tinypic.com/xehbhg.jpg - part 2 sony rep Talk Real Deal.
http://i41.tinypic.com/16lej4m.jpg - part 3 sony rep Talk Real Deal.
http://i43.tinypic.com/xehbhg.jpg - part 2 sony rep Talk Real Deal.
http://i41.tinypic.com/16lej4m.jpg - part 3 sony rep Talk Real Deal.
Superb! Thanks Lou.
Cheers
tim
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