SNK Clamps Down on Piracy

SNK Clamps Down on Piracy

Below is a press release from a US Distributor.
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I have an important message to relay to you before you hear it from any other source. So far, Worldwide Video and no other US Distributor of coin op equipment have been targeted for SNK product in the action as described below.

World Wide Video was visited and issued a lawsuit by: U.S. Federal Marshall's, a lawyer for SNK USA, and two representatives of SNK USA. They came to look for and take everything we had with the NEO GEO SNK moniker on it. Posters, marquees, cartridges, one slots, parts, wire harnesses etc etc were also taken. Apparently SNK is having trouble in the overseas markets with counterfeit products being distributed throughout Asia. Worldwide Video is not a knowing participant in counterfeiting, nor do we condone the manufacturer of counterfeiting video games. It has been alleged that one of our King of Fighters 2002 cartridges (that they acquired from a third party source with our serial number on it) was a counterfeit cartridge. They determined this by examining it under a microscope. They stated in their lawsuit this counterfeit product is extremely difficult to identify. Worldwide Video purchased a very small amount from several of our normal and reliable US sources over a period of 2 months. None were imported from overseas markets, and none were purchased from any unknown sources to us. Therefore we were not inclined to know about this problem.

We regret the problem that SNK Corporation is encountering on these games and will do everything that is asked of us in cooperating with the people from SNK. We have nothing to hide. If our suppliers sold us counterfeit Neo Geo cartridges, I am confident that they did not knowingly do so.

Again, from the standpoint of our company reputation, we are concerned that this action will impair our relationships with you our valued customers. By sending this fax and email out before you heard it anywhere else, we wish to make it clear that this problem of counterfeiting is a serious rogue to our industry, and we wish to openly state that we do not support it. We will take another closer look at the inventory we have on hand to verify its' authenticity. I personally do not believe we have any counterfeits, but will proceed with more diligence as a result of this action by SNK.

Brad Brown
President

With all the best,

Brad Brown
President
Worldwide Video
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We wish to thank Brad for allowing us to this press release.