Konami Digital Entertainment has responded to Upper Deck’s announcement on the lack of availability of Yu-Gi-Oh! Champion Packs (see “No Yu-Gi-Oh! Champion Packs”) by stating that it has terminated Upper Deck’s distribution agreement and that it (Konami) is the only authorized distributor for the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG.  “Despite what was recently announced by The Upper Deck Company (UDC), the distribution agreement between Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. (KDE) and UDC for North America has been terminated,” a statement by Konami VP Card Business Yumi Hoashi said.  “KDE is the exclusive worldwide licensee for the Yu-Gi-Oh! Trading Card Game.  We have always been and continue to be the sole manufacturer and are the only authorized distributor in North America.”

Konami terminated its distribution agreement with Upper Deck in December and Upper Deck filed suit (see “Konami Takes Over YGO TCG”).  Konami was unsuccessful in its efforts to get an injunction to force Upper Deck to stop selling the Yu-Gi-Oh! TCG (see “Upper Deck Gets Favorable U.S. Ruling”).