Smokee

I read somewhere about this family's car collection. After reading about it, I decided anyone who buys Monster cables are getting ripped off big time.

ideugene

Damn... what a terrible company. Never again!

CyrusA

went to circuit city, needed an s-video cable... ALMOST bought a monster cable... almost

MacGyver

A number of things just don't sound correct about this "series of lawsuits".

Yes, a company is required to defend their trademark EVERY TIME they become aware of a possible infraction IF they wish to ever legally challenge an infraction in court... the moment you let one infraction slip by, the courts will shoot down any further attempts at enforcement.

The real question, though, becomes is there any infraction by these other companies (Disney, Discovery Channel, etc.). The straight out answer is 'no'. For there to be an infraction, the offending company has to cause a definite confusion in the marketplace.

A definite confusion could be a number of things, including using a symbol that is very close in shape/design to a trademarked symbol (somewhat open to interpretation, but most copies are pretty obvious, such as using the Nike Swoosh).

Confusion may be created by using a similar name (in this case, Monster), but the trademark laws clearly specify the confusion must be created because the companies serve the same industry. In this case, I hardly think a cable company's products are diluted by a Pixar Animation video or a construction/destruction show on Discovery Channel. Ever seen the movie Coming to America? Eddie Murphy works for a short time at a place called MacDowells, which has the golden arcs... of course they were being sued by McDonalds, which has the golden arches. They were both in the food industry, which would obviously cause a confusion in the marketplace. Disney/MGM-Warner obviously does not sell cable/audio equipment, and Monster Cable obviously does not sell a line of plush Animaniacs and Mickey stickers.

I found the alleged lawsuit online towards Disney (assuming it was a real copy). Monster alleges the following:

[QUOTE]
11. Plaintiffs have extensively advertised and promoted said marks. Moreover, Plaintiffs have invested substantial time, energy and resources to develop said marks. Each of their marks are inherently arbitrary, fanciful, distinctive or suggestive, or have otherwise acquired secondary meaning in the relevant channels of trade to refer to Plaintiffs.
12. Plaintiffs are informed and believe, and based thereon allege, that from and after September 17, 2001, defendants and each of them have commenced use in commerce of a confusingly similar

TrackStar

Btw, everything Monster cable I've used for my car has been fine, but every monster cable I ever bought for my guitar broke. I've had a few $5.99 generics for about 8 years with no problems. One of my best friends owns a guitar store and he says the same thing.

PJK3

[QUOTE=Fencer,Jan 8 2005, 01:40 AM] Posted by PJK3
"you do know that light (visible and not) is a form of ElectroMagnetic waves.... right?"


Yes, but...

flitcroft

[QUOTE=MacGyver,Jan 10 2005, 07:17 AM] Funny though... if Monster Cable dropped the 'Cable' from their name, and only did so recently, they cannot turn around and claim companies like Monster.com were encroaching on their trademark.

MacGyver

It's not a matter of IF light can be affected by magnetic fields (they can), but a matter of will that change have any effect on the required properties. In the case of FO cable for transmitting audio data, the answer is 'no'.

Magnetic fields may alter the polarization of a photon, but only a gravitic force can alter its path. Unless you happen to drive by a quantum singularity, the photons are going to stay inside the FO cable.

Since the signal we're sending down the cable is looked at in a light/no-light manner, the polarization of that light has no effect on the data it carries. Other than light losses through the FO cable cladding, shielding is not probably useless, it definitely is.

CBeyond

Hmmm, I don't have to join this boycott because I have always boycotted Monster Cable. I've never bought even one of their crappy overpriced products. Now I have another reason to reinforce my poor opinion of them.

flitcroft

Here a list of other cases Monster Cable is involved in (5 pages long)from
theUnited States Patent and Trademark Office.

1. Monster Records
2. Monster Rock
3. Monster Mos
4. Monsters of Rock 'n' Roar
5. Monster in my Pants
6. Monster Cafe'
7. Monster Museum Cafe'
8. Monster Bowl
9. Monster Ray
10. Monster
11. Monster Money
12. Monster Software
13. The Monster
14. The Monster Card
15. Digital Monster
16. Speed Monster
17. Monster Bot
18. Monster Commands
19. Hula Monsters
20. EMonster
21. Music Monster
22. Monsterworld
23. Monster Magnet
24. Honey Monster
25. Audiomonster
26. Duel Monsters
27. Think Monster
28. Monster Spray
29. Rubie's Tiny Monsters
30. Monster Tamer
31. Home of the Monster
32. Scan Monsters
23. Monster Eye
24. Monster Recovery
25. Monster Light
26. Jingle Bell Monster
27. Mini Monsters
28. The Number Monster
29. Monster Fighters
30. Monstersnaps
31. Monster Guard
32. Monster Hardware
33. Monster Game
34. Monster Vision
35. Monster Filter
36. My Pet Monster
37. Build-A-Monster
38. Monster Cutters
39. Monstermark
40. Reborn the Monster
41. Monster Rancher Explorer
42. Monstergrams
43. Monsterworks
44. Tully-Monster
45. Doctor Zarr's Amazing Funk Monster
46. Monster Truck Mania
47. Hela Monster
48. Monster Maze
49. Monster Proof
50. Monster Away
51. Monsters for Grown-Ups
52. War of the Monsters
53. Scooby-Doo and the Monsters of Mexico
54. Monster Rancher Advance
55. One Eyed Monster
56. Learning Monster
57. Inkmonsters
58. Scribble Monster
59. Sky Monsters
60. B Monster
61. "It's not a monster - it's local!"
62. Bapcol Flomonster
63. Monster Snot
64. Songster
65. Monster Rancher
66. Monsters of the Midway
67. Monster Mix
68. Monster Grip
69. Monsterhype Productions
70. Monsterresponse
71. Road Monsters
72. Doctor Monster
73. Monster Garage
74. Monsters
75. Monsters of Rock
76. M Monnex
77. Monster Grab
78. Monster Resins
79. Monster Clubhouse
80. Monsterpin
81. Monster Hunter
82. Monster Squadron
83. Monster Head
84. Mambo Monster
85. Monster Sweep
86. The Monster Cooler
87. Messagemonster
88. Monster Cash
89. Monster Maker Media & Marketing
90. Monster Seats
91. M Monster
92. Blue Monster Bar
93. Monsterskate
94. Monster Enforcer
95. Monster Magic
96. Snow Monsters
97. Candy Monster
98. Monster Mansion
99. Air Monster
100. Monster Slots
101. Monster Tower
102. Monster Baseball
103. Monsters of the Interstate
104. Monsters Wanted

http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?qt=adv&...=&pn2=&cop=&cn=