Monster is at it again!

cfrizz

They have issued a cease & desist letter to Blue Jeans Cable.

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=43065

They may very well have tangled with the wrong guy though. Since Kurt of BJC is a former lawyer who specialized in this kind of issue & has friends who still work in this area!

So spread the word that Monster is at it again with their bullying tactics! Can Signal Cable be next on the list?

toddco

****

danger boy

interesting.. but i'm sure Monster can afford some pretty decent lawyers themselves.. i hope he wins though.. that would be a good smack down for Monster cable.

killerb

i love my monster cables. nice and compact and a great price frrom ebay.

Rivrrat

Monster cable are nice looking, slick packaged, and priced at a point that makes me gasp. They have their marketing down as good as Bose does.

It'll be easy to boycott them now, since I'd never buy their products anywy.

Early B.

Here's a statement I lifted from Blue Jeans Cable that offers the facts --


Howdy, all; Kurt from Blue Jeans Cable here.

First, my thanks for all the supportive comments. If you want to lend further support to the cause, the best thing you can do for us is to spread the word by talking about this online; make sure that people here and elsewhere know what's going on. As for the offer of financial donations: that's very, very kind, but we're going to be just fine here, and we're happy to carry on the fight on our own dime.

Second, I should point out just a couple of quibble-sized issues with the report. Monster hasn't actually sued us yet, nor is there a cease-and-desist order; rather, there's simply a cease-and-desist letter, which carries no legal effect in and of itself. If this does escalate to litigation, I will let everyone know; heck, I'll probably start a blog.

Third, let me tell you a bit about myself, since the fact that I'm a retired lawyer has already come up. I spent nineteen years in the practice of law, first in Philadelphia and later Seattle, after attending University of Pennsylvania Law School (class of '85). My entire practice was in litigation, most of that in federal courts, involving complex legal issues and large-damage cases (occasionally, but not often, involving intellectual-property issues). My roommate from second year is a highly-regarded intellectual property litigator, and other friends of mine include IP counsel to large technology firms; so when I have a patent or a trademark question, you can bet I know who to call. And litigation doesn't scare me; heck, I spent a couple of decades doing litigation full time.

Unless Monster is hiding the ball somewhere, the patent and trademark claims they're advancing here are flat-out frivolous. The lack of resemblance between their designs and the connectors we sell is obvious, and this looks like their typical m.o. -- go shake down the little guys and try to scare them into signing burdensome licensing agreements. Still, to make sure, I'm preparing a letter to them to request further information in support of their claims; if they're not able to produce that information and show how it relates to their claims, chances are this is a bluff and no suit is coming. However, I have met some dumb, dumb lawyers over the years, so one can never be sure a suit won't be filed just because the claims are frivolous. Suffice it to say that if they do file it, I am not one of those who "suffers fools gladly" and there is no great likelihood of my settling it; I will take them all the way to judgment. The result would likely be a decision that would put an end to their efforts to attach an overly-broad scope to their various design patents and trademark registrations.

As a rule, what happens when Monster does this sort of thing is that it gets away with it. People are terrified of litigation, especially litigation against large entities with lots of money, and that allows bullies to get away with ridiculous things. I am calm under fire, and there is nothing I hate worse than a bully. As for their size: the bigger they are, the harder they fall. Money can buy lawyers, but it can't buy merits for a meritless case.

Again, thanks for all the supportive posts. I will make sure everyone is kept abreast of developments.

Kurt
Blue Jeans Cable

Early B.

I gotta say, though, this is great publicity for BJC. Kurt is probably laughing all the way to the bank.

exalted512

I really wish monster would just die. What a bunch of jackasses.
-Cody

jflail2

Looks like my next cable order will be from BJC. Talk about a backfire on Monster's part; I wonder how many other consumers will voice their support for the little guy with their hard earned dollars...

Gaara

I doubt this will have any impact on them at all. Think about it, who is buying there cables? I would guess 99% of their sales are to people who would never visit a forum like this, and will never hear of this lawsuit.

On the plus side it is getting Tartan's name out there.

mantis

I'd like to know what monster thinks Blue Jeans is using from them?? What is copied?? I don't see it. I have Installed Monster cable for many years(not anymore) and I don't see what they are talking about.

I don't get it.

cmy330go

Thanks for posting that Early B. Always best to get it from the source.

I must admit that I would love to see Monster push this, and then get slapped down. It would be great if Kurt could once-and-for-all put an end to their constant BS.

markmarc

Sounds like a page straight from Micro$oft.

I'll see if Kurt would like some support thru the e-zine.

Early B.

markmarc wrote: »

I'll see if Kurt would like some support thru the e-zine.

Great idea.

The audiophile consumer shops in a niche market. We're a small band of brothers (and a few sisters), so we have to "stick it to the man" every time he tries to pounce on the little guys.

'Eff 'em!

Strong Bad

Makes ya wonder how much profit Monster has to price into their product to cover all the litigation they have constantly going on. If they stopped all of their **** tactics, the could probably reduce their product pricing by atleast 25%.

Pieces of ****!

treitz3

It's not like Monster has a superior product they need to protect.

amulford

treitz3 wrote: »

It's not like Monster has a superior product they need to protect.

True, but what they do have is a signifigant marketshare they are trying to expand and conquer. If they might be able to get rid of a competitor, WTH, give it a shot.

With their profit margins, they need something to write off...

F#ck 'em.

BaggedLancer

No big loss on either side in my opinion.

PolkThug

This is the same crap M* has been doing for years. Its sad to think how many companies are paying them BS licensing fees.

PolkWannabie

Maybe we could some how arrange for Monster and Bose to sue each other into oblivion ...

amulford

PolkThug wrote: »

This is the same crap M* has been doing for years. Its sad to think how many companies are paying them BS licensing fees.

I wish I had thought of that really...;)

garnier

I see. So Monster Cables are way too expensive for their quality, or is it that their products are not as good compared to other brand products of similar price range? Similar questions, but some feedbacks please! Thank you!

cfrizz

You can get just as good quality or better at lower prices than Monster.

SolidSqual

This is awesome. Thanks for posting this. I'm bringing it to my IP class today.

Early B.

garnier wrote: »

I see. So Monster Cables are way too expensive for their quality, or is it that their products are not as good compared to other brand products of similar price range? Similar questions, but some feedbacks please! Thank you!

Yeah, and their business practices are questionable, so I don't support or recommend them for that reason.

heiney9

killerb wrote: »

i love my monster cables. nice and compact and a great price frrom ebay.

Time to try some real cables. Monster is mediocre at best. Their bullying tactics and attitude in general (as a company) are deplorable.

I say at the next PF we have a Monster burning demonstration and post it on YouTube.

venomclan

Noel Lee is an A$$ Clown.

dorokusai

venomclan wrote: »

Noel Lee is an A$$ Clown.

I think I'll pay to make some "Monster Cable Sucks" stickers for Cedia '08 and drop them everywhere like Manley's "Tubes Rule".

dkg999

dorokusai wrote: »

I think I'll pay to make some "Monster Cable Sucks" stickers for Cedia '08 and drop them everywhere like Manley's "Tubes Rule".

Don't be afraid to ask for donations to cover your cost!

audiobliss

dorokusai wrote: »

I think I'll pay to make some "Monster Cable Sucks" stickers for Cedia '08 and drop them everywhere like Manley's "Tubes Rule".

Awesome idea!!

zingo

PolkWannabie wrote: »

Maybe we could some how arrange for Monster and Bose to sue each other into oblivion ...

Best idea I'll hear today.