Audiovox/Klipsch suing Monoprice for its Energy Take Classic 5.1 speaker system clone
Danny Tse
Posts: 5,206
Scary thought, isn't it? Audiovox owning Klipsch, and Klipsch owning Energy.
Here's the story from cnet.com....
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57576411-38/monoprice-a-tech-consumers-best-friend-or-a-copycat/?tag=nl.e703&s_cid=e703&ttag=e703
Here's the story from cnet.com....
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-57576411-38/monoprice-a-tech-consumers-best-friend-or-a-copycat/?tag=nl.e703&s_cid=e703&ttag=e703
Post edited by Danny Tse on
Comments
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Interesting story. Lawyers are happy.
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Based on those pic's, I'd say Monoprice is SOL on defending that line.I refuse to argue with idiots, because people can't tell the DIFFERENCE!
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Based on those pic's, I'd say Monoprice is SOL on defending that line.
*IF* Klipsch and Audiovox didn't lock down the intellectual property rights, then *they* will be the ones who are SOL.
Not that I approve or defend one side or the other but from a completely unbiased third party, both sides either have a great case or nothing at all."Some people find it easier to be conceited rather than correct."
"Unwad those panties and have a good time man. We're all here to help each other, no matter how it might appear." DSkip -
I recall being called a "troll" for suggesting Monoprice does exactly what the CNET article confirms:While declining to discuss specific products, Monoprice's Kumar said his company has contracts with Asian manufacturers that own the intellectual property of products made for brands that sell in the United States. Often those brands don't lock up an exclusive agreement with their Asian manufacturers. Moreover, he said, Monoprice requires its Asian suppliers to sign documents that hold them liable for any product that might infringe on the intellectual property of another company.
"We can go to that same factory and legally have them make the same product for us," Kumar said. "We're basically selling the product for a lot less money."
Kumar declined to name Monoprice's Asian vendors, though, citing proprietary arrangements that he wanted to protect.
He also said Monoprice sometimes cuts deals with American companies to license their technology, even though they know Monoprice will offer the same product for a lower price.
"They may do that as a way to get incremental volume," Kumar said.
Again, Kumar declined to name any of those partners. And those companies are unlikely to disclose the relationship; if consumers recognized the arrangement, they'd likely opt for the less expensive Monoprice product.
Point, me.
RT-12, CS350-LS, PSW-300, Infinity Overture 1, Monoprice RC-65i
Adcom GFA-545II, GFA-6000, Outlaw Audio 990, Netgear NeoTV
Denon DCM-460, DMD-1000, Sony BDP-360, Bravia KDL-40Z4100/S
Monster AVL-300, HTS-2500 MKII -
He also said Monoprice sometimes cuts deals with American companies to license their technology, even though they know Monoprice will offer the same product for a lower price.
"They may do that as a way to get incremental volume," Kumar said.
I wonder if this is the reason Monitor Audio is "reissuing" some of its older models at a lower price? -
Not sure, but it doesn't look like the lawsuit has stopped Monoprice from selling the Energy clones:
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=109&cp_id=10906&cs_id=1090601&p_id=9774
RT-12, CS350-LS, PSW-300, Infinity Overture 1, Monoprice RC-65i
Adcom GFA-545II, GFA-6000, Outlaw Audio 990, Netgear NeoTV
Denon DCM-460, DMD-1000, Sony BDP-360, Bravia KDL-40Z4100/S
Monster AVL-300, HTS-2500 MKII -
When all these companies decided to outsource to China, what did they expect to happen?
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Shouldn't surprise anyone after that CNET video that tells "everyone" that the monoprice package seems to be the Energy package without the Energy logo. And then hedges to recommend people purchase it (because they expected a suit!). lol
On the positive side, at least it's not FAKE Chinese, of which there are many, many, many products. I recently decided to pick up a couple of h-phones and I really had to make sure I was NOT being suckered by lowballers that were selling at rock bottom prices. So many fakes in that market (buyer beware). I decided to go with the lowest price from an "authorized" online dealer that's been around for a WHILE!
Fakes in China itself, are even MORE of a problem. They're rampant. I remember going to one of those ubiquitous Bazaar-like places in Beijing, trying to buy a pair of cans for my daughter and having to thoroughly eye, inspect, listen to the final purchase. They had fake Sonys, Audio Technicas, JVC, Bose, etc. An unbelievable supply (store) of fakes! And most Chinese consumers who shop in these concession are "certainly" buying fake product!
The funny thing is even our U.S. youtube is now full of unboxing videos that tell you how to determine if you have an authentic item or a fake?
And you definitely cannot "trust" something like Amazon "market place"--lots of dealers in "fakes" there!
cnhCurrently orbiting Bowie's Blackstar.!
Polk Lsi-7s, Def Tech 8" sub, HK 3490, HK HD 990 (CDP/DAC), AKG Q701s
[sig. changed on a monthly basis as I rotate in and out of my stash] -
We should also note that Monoprice sells unbranded cables to home theater installers and system integrators so that they don't appear to be selling a budget cable at a high price.
What ever happened with the Monoprice 'UL' cable problem? Some cables showed up with both Monoprice & UL labels that were never UL tested.
