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Voici un article expliquant un petit peu le bordel qui reigne chez Playmore. Le problème vient du fait que playmore a autorisé neogeousa a distribuer les MVS au states alors que Apple avait normalement l'exclusivité de la distribution MVS. Résultat, les procès pleuvent et Playmore perd de l'argent.
Résumé : Playmore ne s'appelle peut être pas SNK mais en tout cas les 2 compagnies (la morte et la vivante) sont aussi douées pour le mauvais business...:(
Neo Geo USA Gets Ugly -Stinger Report
Word on the Street
What has to be one of the most confusing and long running amusement stories has taken an ëuglyí twist. December marked the beginning of legal activities by the Playmore sponsored SNK NeoGeo USA division, supported by information from the Sun Amusement division, attempting to rout SNK ëGray Importsí flooding the North American market.
While SNK attempts to build up interest in King of Fighter 2002, and the possibility of SNK Vs. Capcom (see previous report), a dedicated legal assault was put into place in the month following the IAAPA exhibition. Worldwide Video, the San Diego distributor became the recipient of unwanted guests in the guise of Federal officers (State Sheriff in tow) and legal representatives of the Playmore / Sun Amusement operation. The sudden visitation was in regards of a number of KoF02 cartridges that had been alleged to illegally emanate from the Californiaí company. The seizure of material so severe that the Worldwide web site was disabled.
In the ensuing visit, quantities of advertising material and product packaging (bearing the NeoGeo trademark) were confiscated for examination, though the haphazard way that material was gathered seemed to point to a confusion on what the distributor was entitled to promote, and what was the prerogative of SNK. This seems to be the key issue of the whole legal action, as it has been rumored that rather than being the injured party Playmore / Sun Amusement may be incorrect in their claims.
Sources have revealed that the KoF02 cartridges in question, (that bore the Worldwide serial number) may not have been illegally represented, but were supplied from a source that had the rights to sell the chips, but who is in contention with Playmore. The issue is such that it may effect the position of Playmore regarding other releases, and the use of certain character and IP names. This news comes on the back of the impacted position by Apple Industries, and on going battles between the SNK IP owners and a number of Korean manufacturers.
What Could this all Mean
The revelation of the Apple Industries / SNK NeoGeo USA feud continues with the SNK US web site still ominously static claiming ëTemporarily closed for updatingí!! Though the Stinger has broken the current issues involved in the argument between the two there is a number of ramifications to the actual use of IP owned by Playmore / Sun Amusement that could be seriously hampered by an inability to present to the US market. The announcement of the Eolith agreement at IAAPA with Apple adding fuel to the fire, though it is unlikley that Apple will be getting a similar visit as has befallen Worldwide Video.
Additional Note: To say that SNK was the only factory turning ëuglyí, you would be forgetting the two-page spread that jumped out at readers in several popular trade publications this month. The happy face of Al Stone, President and COO of SEGA Amusement USA (a picture taken during happier times for the infamous ìSEGA Strategy 1998î flyer) was greeted by an open letter stating clearly SEGAís position on ëGray Importsí.
Sources have passed on to the REPORT that a number of SEGA games have been appearing via Taiwanese distributors (also some links to South Korean). These games have then been sold through distributaries in the States and Europe. Gossip speaks of the main concern coming from counterfeit NAOMI-GD ROM boards appearing on the market, along with a number of illegal Initial D: Arcade Stage systems.
With the hard times affecting any sale of amusement titles this unprecedented advisory shows how much factories have to fight for every opportunity. Though it is unclear if SEGA would undertake the near forensic actions as with SNK USA, it is a fact that legal action will be taken against any distributor caught, and ramifications for the operator of such systems.
That SegaArcade.com (the official web page) correct designation the satellite operation as SEGA Enterprises USA, Inc., while still remnants of the SEGA GameWorks designation hovers like ghosts around the operation seem to draw a comparison with the confusing structure of SNK, the big difference is that SEGA is established and can (and will) fight against this illegal erosion. That SEGA and SNK have turned to direct legal consideration, rather than enticing the support and defense of the local trade association shows the ëtoothless lioní that these associations have become regarding important manufacturer issues.
The impotence of the associations to act on this matter seems to mimic the failure of JAMMA to do the same thing form Konami against the infringement of their license by the Taiwanese BeMania copies. It is interesting to speculate weather the trade congress will suffer from a lack of support as the AOU events seems to be victim of.
[ January 14, 2003: Message edited
Résumé : Playmore ne s'appelle peut être pas SNK mais en tout cas les 2 compagnies (la morte et la vivante) sont aussi douées pour le mauvais business...:(
Neo Geo USA Gets Ugly -Stinger Report
Word on the Street
What has to be one of the most confusing and long running amusement stories has taken an ëuglyí twist. December marked the beginning of legal activities by the Playmore sponsored SNK NeoGeo USA division, supported by information from the Sun Amusement division, attempting to rout SNK ëGray Importsí flooding the North American market.
While SNK attempts to build up interest in King of Fighter 2002, and the possibility of SNK Vs. Capcom (see previous report), a dedicated legal assault was put into place in the month following the IAAPA exhibition. Worldwide Video, the San Diego distributor became the recipient of unwanted guests in the guise of Federal officers (State Sheriff in tow) and legal representatives of the Playmore / Sun Amusement operation. The sudden visitation was in regards of a number of KoF02 cartridges that had been alleged to illegally emanate from the Californiaí company. The seizure of material so severe that the Worldwide web site was disabled.
In the ensuing visit, quantities of advertising material and product packaging (bearing the NeoGeo trademark) were confiscated for examination, though the haphazard way that material was gathered seemed to point to a confusion on what the distributor was entitled to promote, and what was the prerogative of SNK. This seems to be the key issue of the whole legal action, as it has been rumored that rather than being the injured party Playmore / Sun Amusement may be incorrect in their claims.
Sources have revealed that the KoF02 cartridges in question, (that bore the Worldwide serial number) may not have been illegally represented, but were supplied from a source that had the rights to sell the chips, but who is in contention with Playmore. The issue is such that it may effect the position of Playmore regarding other releases, and the use of certain character and IP names. This news comes on the back of the impacted position by Apple Industries, and on going battles between the SNK IP owners and a number of Korean manufacturers.
What Could this all Mean
The revelation of the Apple Industries / SNK NeoGeo USA feud continues with the SNK US web site still ominously static claiming ëTemporarily closed for updatingí!! Though the Stinger has broken the current issues involved in the argument between the two there is a number of ramifications to the actual use of IP owned by Playmore / Sun Amusement that could be seriously hampered by an inability to present to the US market. The announcement of the Eolith agreement at IAAPA with Apple adding fuel to the fire, though it is unlikley that Apple will be getting a similar visit as has befallen Worldwide Video.
Additional Note: To say that SNK was the only factory turning ëuglyí, you would be forgetting the two-page spread that jumped out at readers in several popular trade publications this month. The happy face of Al Stone, President and COO of SEGA Amusement USA (a picture taken during happier times for the infamous ìSEGA Strategy 1998î flyer) was greeted by an open letter stating clearly SEGAís position on ëGray Importsí.
Sources have passed on to the REPORT that a number of SEGA games have been appearing via Taiwanese distributors (also some links to South Korean). These games have then been sold through distributaries in the States and Europe. Gossip speaks of the main concern coming from counterfeit NAOMI-GD ROM boards appearing on the market, along with a number of illegal Initial D: Arcade Stage systems.
With the hard times affecting any sale of amusement titles this unprecedented advisory shows how much factories have to fight for every opportunity. Though it is unclear if SEGA would undertake the near forensic actions as with SNK USA, it is a fact that legal action will be taken against any distributor caught, and ramifications for the operator of such systems.
That SegaArcade.com (the official web page) correct designation the satellite operation as SEGA Enterprises USA, Inc., while still remnants of the SEGA GameWorks designation hovers like ghosts around the operation seem to draw a comparison with the confusing structure of SNK, the big difference is that SEGA is established and can (and will) fight against this illegal erosion. That SEGA and SNK have turned to direct legal consideration, rather than enticing the support and defense of the local trade association shows the ëtoothless lioní that these associations have become regarding important manufacturer issues.
The impotence of the associations to act on this matter seems to mimic the failure of JAMMA to do the same thing form Konami against the infringement of their license by the Taiwanese BeMania copies. It is interesting to speculate weather the trade congress will suffer from a lack of support as the AOU events seems to be victim of.
[ January 14, 2003: Message edited
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