The conflict over the Neo Geo X Gold handheld console and Neo Geo X games software between Japan’s SNK Playmore and US publisher and distributor Tommo continues, with Tommo now planning to take legal action against SNK, the US firm has announced.
According to a Tommo press statement, the distribution partner denies breach of contract allegations by SNK and “will seek all legal remedies to maintain its licensee standing.”
“The agreement between Tommo and SNK provides specific mechanisms to resolve issues the parties may have with each other; the agreement does not allow SNK to unilaterally pull-the-plug on the rights conferred,” said Tommo CEO Jonathan Wan.
“Unfortunately, SNK has both failed and refused to use a single contractual remedy to resolve whatever differences exist in this matter, refused our numerous requests to discuss any issues at hand and refuses to consider any good faith proposals we have put forth, instead they are trying to bully U.S. retailers with scare tactics,” added Wan. “Their threats and accusations have harmed the Neo Geo X product marketing efforts, sales channels, and have cost Tommo significant financial losses.”
As reported earlier, SNK Playmore terminated Tommo’s global manufacture and distribution licenses for the NeoGeo X Gold Limited Edition games console and SNK NeoGeo X Arcade Stick, as well as Mega Pack Volume 1 and Classics volumes 1 – 5 game bundles in October last year.
“In order to protect our intellectual property rights such as ‘NeoGeo’ and ‘SNK,’ decisive measures will be taken against all unapproved NeoGeo X products not subject to the license agreement,” said the company in a statement at the time.
The NeoGeo X handheld console was released late last year and game bundles for the platform went on sale this spring. NeoGeo X Gold System manufacture by Tommo in Japan ended last year.
As of yet no official comment regarding Tommo’s latest statement from SNK Playmore.
