In a surprising news update, it was reported that the Robinson’s Ermita branch of Datablitz was raided by the PNP because it was reported to be selling “pirated” software.
In the GMA news article, it was said that the PNP acted on a complaint by X-Play Online Games Inc. Distributor of NBA 2k13 among other game titles. However, in a different news from bombo radyo other branches of Datablitz were hit as well. Back2Gaming tried to contact Datablitz about the matter and it was indirectly expressed that it was both the Ermita branch and the V-Mall branch that was hit by the PNP raid.
This bit of news has spread like wildfire within the communities and patrons of the game retailer called it as “absurd” since Datablitz has never been reputed to sell pirated copies of games or software. In fact, Datablitz has been known to be one the “go-to” stores for any legit copy of any game.
In light of the situation however, one commenter showed the blaring mistake of the article:
(Editor’s Note: The timeline is based on how the writer has received the news bits and not on when they were released, so there may be discrepancies in terms on when the update has been posted and on the actual post time of items)
[Update:12:31 AM 11-6-2012] According to Ed Uy
just an update datablitz store assistants being held at cidg kinukunan ng mugshots as if they were criminals. WARRANTLESS ARREST DAW KASE DATABLITZ IS SELLING PIRATED GAMES ACCORDING TO XPLAY… THEIR PROOF WALA DAW STICKER NG XPLAY? AY ang galeng tlaga ng justice system natin
[Update:12:32 AM 11-6-2012]รย The Datablitz website is down, and according to the our Datablitz contact, the timing’s all weird since this happened coincidentally when the raids happened.
[Update:01:06 AM 11-6-2012] Datablitz is back in business later, no word on the site status however (Source: Ed Uy)
[Update:09:00 AM 11-6-2012] DataBlitz update; camera crew that were at CIDG last night to cover the arrests said they were apparently given wrong info and was told it was a CYBERSEX case! Good thing they recognized the Datablitz staff and decided not to continue their coverage. (It was told earlier that there was a camera crew on the precinct where the DB staff were detained)
[Update:4:26 PM 11-6-2012] According to InterAksyon (who did a better job in getting all the infos right):
- A Total of 2.65 M Worth of unauthorized gaming software were seized
- It’s not just NBA 2k13 that was taken
- Eleven search warrants against DataBlitz were issued by the courts, which “were applied last October 31,”
- Gonzales said DataBlitz would be charged with violation of Section 168 of Republic Act 8293, or the law on unfair competition.
- The above mentioned GMA News article was retracted and now instead of Datablitz being accused of selling pirated games, it now changed to “unauthorized software”
So here you have it folks everything is now out.
[Update: 5:02 PM 11-6-12] X-play issues official statement through Blogger, Jayvee Hernandez:
[toggle title=”X-Play’s Official Release”]On November 5, 2012, Monday, simultaneous raids led by CIDG were held in various branches of game and software distributor Datablitz, Inc., as they were publicly selling NBA 2K13 products without any prior authority and consent from NBA2K13 exclusive distributor in the Philippines, X-Play Online Games, Inc.
While you can coordinate directly with CIDG for the specific details of the raid, we would like to shed some light on the premise of X-Play as to why it has come to this extent. Please know that X-Play had no other intention but to protect their business, and to exercise their responsibility to their partners and the community they are in.
[/toggle]OFFICIAL STATEMENT OF X-PLAY
It is unfortunate that businesses had to be disrupted by the incident that transpired yesterday. While we sympathize with other individuals dragged on by this issue, we stand by our ground to be vigilant in dealing with illegal activities to protect our rights, our partners and our local gaming community.
This is not a knee-jerk reaction from X-Play. In fact, meetings were held with Datablitz President, Winston Lim and his team to become X-Playรขโฌ™s primary partner for NBA 2K13. Datablitz key executives Sandra Lu and Orpha Oambas even participated in X-Playรขโฌ™s distributor conferences and got all the marketing and distribution plans of the company.
Datablitzรขโฌ™s decision to acquire and distribute NBA 2K13 through unauthorized means despite these efforts, leaves X-Play no other option but to report this to the proper authorities, in which CIDG and the Regional Trail Court took immediate action on.
The action of Datablitz was not only detrimental to X-Play but also affected other smaller retailers, game stores and entrepreneurs.
We hope nothing more but to resolve this predicament but will hold firm in protecting the industry from smugglers and illegal operators.FACT SHEET
FACTS OF THE CASE
The complaint was for รขโฌลunfair competitionรขโฌย defined under Section 168 of Republic Act No. 8293 or the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines.
By selling the NBA2K13 Products without authority from EpicSoft and/or XPlay, the exclusive distributor thereof in the Philippines, Datablitz, Inc. took a รขโฌลfree rideรขโฌย on the good will and marketing excitement established by XPlay, thereby engaging in รขโฌลunfair competitionรขโฌย to the prejudice of-Xplay and all of its rightful distributors most of which are small retail outlets.MEETINGS WITH DATABLITZ
Meeting between Take 2 Interactive, X-Play, and Datablitz
- Date: September 6, 2012
- Location: New World Hotel
Discussion Points:
- X-Play will be Official Distributor for NBA 2K13
- X-Play wants Datablitz as a primary partner, and requested Datablitz to advise on support requirements it would need for NBA 2K13
Distributors Conference 1
- Date: September 13, 2012
- Location: Max Restaurant, Gateway Mall, Cubao, Quezon City
- Attendees: Sandra Lu, Datablitz Purchasing Head, Orpha Oambas, Datablitz Marketing and Events Manager
Discussion Points:
- Briefing on X-Play Product Portfolio
- Briefing on Marketing Programs
- Discussion of Commercial Terms and Trade Concerns
Distributors Conference 2
- Date: September 27, 2012
- Location: Max Restaurant, Gateway Mall, Cubao, Quezon City
- Attendees: Sandra Lu, Datablitz Purchasing Head Orpha Oambas, Datablitz Marketing and Events Manager
Discussion Points:
- Discussion on NBA 2K13 Trade Programs, inclusive of all commercial terms.
- Briefing on NBA 2K13 Marketing Program
Lunch Meeting between Datablitz and X-Play Top Executives
- Date: September 28, 2012
Discussion Points:
- In-depth Discussion on partnership Agreement and Concerns
- Sealed partnership Agreement via a Handshake
Meeting between X-Play Sales Team and Datablitz Operations and Purchasing Heads
- Date: September 28, 2012
Discussion Points
- Discussion on actual orders to be placed by Datablitz
- Operational discussion involving Purchase Order releasing, delivery timeframe, and collateral distribution.
[Update: 01:38PM 11-07-12] Datablitz releases it’s official statement about the whole fiasco
[Update 12:26 AM 11-08-12] Reimarufiles does an in-depth analysis of the whole situation, adding user comments to te perspective of the situation.
[Update 5:28 PM 11-07-12] ABS CBN News reports of Xplay and DB replies.
INQ7 reports that DB copies are “smuggled” from HK and and Singapore.
[Update 12:26 AM 11-08-12] X-Play calls for round table discussion, explains it’s side to the whole matter
[Update 11:44 AM 11-08-12] Vidjogames does an in-depth analysis of what transpired, talking to actual DB employees
[Update 01:10 PM 11-08-12] Datablitz answers smuggling allegations by CIDG
[Update 01:36 PM 11-08-12] Business Mirror reports that CIDG conducted test buys and they are in fact “pirated”
33 Comments
Sana Before nila Sinabing PIRATED ang BINEBENTA ng DATABLITZ bakit nasa MALL cla…. AYALA MALLS SM MALL…. i mean BIGATIN ang mga CUSTOMER NILA…รย
Well, I can’t say anything about the writer, but as of this moment though we’re trying to get all the info we can and do a post about it later today
” Datablitz is back in business later”
MUH HALO
รย Get it! Get it NAO!
What a mess.
รย fiasco to the Nth degree
I went to a DB yesterday. it’s Not Pirated Software, but it involved NBA2k13 CDs on the PS3.
Bobo kasi gobyerno natin e. Pati media nahahawa na. D:
รย Hahaha natutu;ad na tayo sa US media XD
ammm. nalang ako.
My gas. Pano na ito. E di LAHAT ng Datablitz sarado na?
Datablitz is back in bizniz na today ๐
Pero yung contested game, wala na sa shelves nila?
As far as I know yeahรย
Hit like if PinoyPlayStation (http://www.facebook.com/groups/pinoyplaystation/)รย brought you here.
fuck you
Dafuq is this? >.<
This is all DAFUQ as it can get~ Sore losers na ginagamit ang palpak na sistema ng gobyerno to get rid of competition.
รย The funny thing is, Datablitzs is stronger than before! XD
boycotting Xplay. That is what this is all about anyway. hit where it hurts
who the fk is thisรย
mas pirated pa nga ang xplay nakamputs. logo palang peke na! kinopya sa isang website.
I would like to see how this issue unfolds. The “backfire” to X-Play should really hit hard like putting a railgun against your face and firing it, as per my assumption.
I think this is just X-Play sourgraping, and using cops to “bust” DBlitz. Very dirty, X-Play. Very dirty.
Datablitz’s business model has always been to bring in titles, regardless of whether they’re distributed officially in the Phils or not. X-Play and DBlitz probably ended up parting ways over distribution of NBA 2K13, since for the longest time, DBlitz has been importing titles and doing its own small-scale distribution. Newcomer X-Play probably wanted DBlitz to abide by its own terms, and DBlitz likely refused, thus, the “raid” incidents. Tsk tsk, X-Play. Not a good way to enter the business.
รย Well, datablitz already said their side of the whole thing and in the end X-play only shot their own leg… so let’s see what’s the fallout of what they did
This is sad news but Datablitz is liable if X-Play truly has exclusive rights in distributing NBA2K locally. Kawawa rin naman yung mga ibang retailers na bumili at nag acknowledge kay X-Play as exclusive distributor dahil iba ang price ni DB. My family has been buying console games at DB for several years now. I hope they sort this out soon.
Who the fuck is Xplay and why have I never heard of them before?
XPLAY pinamahal ang diablo3 at ang pangit pa dito walang freebie, taena pinagkakitaan ng sobrang mahal at masmahal pa sa ibang bansa, mabulok sana ang XPlay na yan atรย magsarado dahil nalugi sa galit ng mga pinoy gamers.
haays… bakit ba kasi ang bilis bilis nio magcomment.. sana naman pakinggan nio ung explanation ng both side before mag accuse or may kampihan.. anyway.. sana lang malabas na ang katotohanan.รย
X-Plays list of retailers.
Diablo III
PCWORX
iTech Trading
F3 PCQuest
BLINQUE TECH
F3 Warzone
CyBr Network & Internet Cafe Webworx
i-Quick Access Internet Kiosk Webworx
F1 Computer shop/icafe
Dataworld
Dwinar
Open Source
RAC Computer Center
Technomart
Bloqbox
Cyvilnet Internet Cafe
Netmode Internet Cafe
Niczac Internet Cafe
Paf Internet Cafe
Vogz Online
North Pole Computer Shop
Megabytes
Chill Inet Cafe
Netviru
Quantum Tech
Mineski Gaming
F3 Mineski Infinity
F3 Gmick
Digital Walker
Beyond the Box
Digital Hub
Cebu Appliance Center
Ed Cafe Kima Glass Company
Acclaim
Battle Station
ADI
Cyber City Ltd. Co.
JRS Computer House
Datalab Computer Systems รขโฌโ Malolos
Datalab Computer Systems รขโฌโ Baliuag
JLC School Mart
Online Avenue
Mai Mai Computers
Atlantica Internet Cafe
Game City รขโฌโ Holy Angel
Game City 2 รขโฌโ AUF
Netsomniac Internet Cafe
GameWise
Comsville Cyber Cafe
PC Complex Dau Computer Center
Project Zone Computer Services
Polkadatcom
Microworld Computers
PC Gilmore
Interpace
Gameline
Game Gizmo
TEKE
Mists of Pandaria
iTech Trading
Gameline
Game Gizmo
TEKE
NBA 2K13
Netopia
Rustans
GameStop
Game Xtreme
Quagmire Ventures, Inc.
Toytown
Grand Gaisano
Planet Toys
Metro Gaisano
Automatic Centre
Landmark
Toy Kingdom
Toy Kingdom Express (SM Department Store)
ToysRus
Toy Box (Robinsons Department Store)
Abenson
Ansons
Lee Super Plaza
Astrovision
iTech Trading
Astroplus
SM Appliance
Gameline
Game Gizmo
TEKE
IM NEVER GONNA BUY GAMES FROM THOSE STORES AGAIN.
รย
sign na kayo mga sir sa petition, para sa datablitz, para sa pang bubully. hindi tama ito.
https://www.change.org/petitions/activision-blizzard-razer-2ksports-withdraw-partnership-with-e-games-x-play-and-all-known-affiliates
do you think what X-Play did was overkill? why raid the whole store (plus main office and other branches), when they could just ask DB to pullout the affected games? first they (GMA7, partner of X-Play) told the public that Datablitz was selling “pirated goods” hence the raid. next they changed it to “unauthorized reselling”. now they’re saying “smuggled goods” which is it really? ano nakalagay na reason sa search warrant? at meron ba silang arrest warrant para sa mga empleyado ng DB? that’s illegal detention. tapos ngayon sinasabi nila na they have no “hand” sa raid? what?! you have X-Play representatives when the CIDG conducted the raid! now i really doubt this “exclusive distribution” that they have. ang tagal nang nagbebenta ng 2k games ang DB. ang X-Play ngayon taon lang. they have what? 3 games? (D3, MOP, 2K13) D3 from the now defunct E-Games.
nakakaloka yung itsu ni haoson huh. sarap mo tsuptsupin. anyhooo. x-play feelers talaga!