Wondering why Engadget still has a
permanent ban on covering Monster Cable products, even after the company
tried to make amends for its frivolous lawsuit and
strong-arm settlement offer against Monster Mini Golf? Well, it's because the company hasn't actually changed its ways -- not only did we just catch them trying to peddle their overpriced snakeoil cables using
rigged displays for the
third time, Noel Lee's lawyers have dusted themselves off and filed a lawsuit against Monster Transmission, a performance auto supplier in Florida. Yes, Monster Cable is suing an American automotive manufacturing company in the middle of a recession. Brilliant PR move, don't you think? So yeah, the ban stands -- and we'd recommend steering your friends to any number of
cable brands that are just as good, much cheaper, and far less burdened with the stink of desperation than any of Monster's products.
Update: Monster Cable's sending out a statement saying "Monster does not have an issue with Monster Transmission" and that the "case was filed last year, before the Monster Mini Golf matter was settled" but it sounds to us like they're playing fast and loose with their timeline to distract people -- we just spoke to Achilles Thomas, one of the owners of Monster Transmission, and he said the initial lawsuit was filed between October and November of 2008 and hasn't come close to settling, even though the Mini Golf case settled in January. Naughty, naughty.
Read - Audioholics post on the lawsuit
Read - Monster Transmissions
posted Apr 9th 2009 at 1:51PM
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Markus @ Apr 9th 2009 1:58PM
I seriously dislike Monster.
Miggity @ Apr 9th 2009 4:14PM
First it was Circuit City.
Now Blockbuster is going down.
Please, PLEASE can Monster Cables be next! Please!?
Eric @ Apr 9th 2009 2:01PM
Have they sued Pixar yet?
Dan @ Apr 9th 2009 2:55PM
Yes. Monster.com, Monster energy drink too. If you name it, they have. And they've won a good number of them too.
Justin @ Apr 9th 2009 2:26PM
Thanks for spreading the word that Monster is such a waste. I really don't understand why they are so popular. If only chains like Best Buy would market high quality-low cost cables Monster would be irrelevant in the market place...
Note to Monster, please DIAF!
Mojo Yugen @ Apr 9th 2009 10:36PM
I'm going out on a limb here, but I'd say that the reason BB and others sell Monster cables is precisely because they ARE overpriced. Overpriced = bigger profit margins = more profits.
The Fuzz 53 @ Apr 9th 2009 2:28PM
They should go after Jesse James and Monster Garage. Or how about that movie that Howie Mandel and Fred Savage were in 20 years ago, Little Monsters. Then go after the ENTIRE Monster Truck industry.
Brian @ Apr 9th 2009 2:47PM
If you have the need to overspend for cables, I definately recommend the Audioquest brand as a great alternative.
Wryker @ Apr 9th 2009 3:02PM
I don't understand how they can sue someone over using the name "Monster" when their name isn't just "monster" nor do the other company infringe on their full name or logo. I can't see them winning on this one.
KilgoreTrout @ Apr 9th 2009 3:11PM
My God! They are monsters!!!
EatingPie @ Apr 9th 2009 3:25PM
What ever happened with the Blue Jeans Cable thing? I only see references to last year's response letter on google. Curious if Monster dropped the C&D... or if anything else happened.
I'm actually surprised they won any of these lawsuits. I know just a little about trademarks, since I was going to apply for one once. Everything I read said trademarks applied to specific industries. For example, the Miniature Golf industry is so dissimilar to the Cable (Consumer Electronics) Industry, Monster should not have had a case. Guess this is why I'm not a lawyer.
-Pie
Video Master 2 @ Apr 9th 2009 4:35PM
Monster Cable is the new Microsoft.
If you want better cables at 1/3 of the Monster price, then go with Dayton.
http://www.daytonaudio.com/audio/cables.html
Video Master 2 @ Apr 9th 2009 4:37PM
Oh yeah and you can get them for dirt cheap on www.monoprice.com
jcaldwell @ Apr 9th 2009 5:54PM
Next thing you know they'll be suing Sesame Workshop (formerly Children's Television Workshop) for the use of the name "Cookie Monster."
Monster Ted @ Apr 9th 2009 6:12PM
Hello this is Ted from Monster. In regards to the comments you had on our response, Monster has been in discussions with Monster Transmissions’ attorneys over the last few months about resolving this case. There is a good chance it will be finalized this week.
BJ is Gooder @ Apr 9th 2009 6:46PM
How about instead of continuing 'discussions', you just drop it? Douchebag.
I have never in my life, truly and sincerely, wanted to see a company completely fail and go down in flames. Congratulations, Monster Cable is the first!
I plan on telling anyone that I see even LOOK at anything monster brand to purchase ANYTHING else. Not only because of their horribly unethical business practices, but also because their products terrifically overpriced.
Nick @ Apr 9th 2009 7:33PM
Ok Ted, how bout you get a job for an employer that isn't run by a bunch of goddamn monkeys. Seriously, if you really are from Monster, I feel sorry for you. Monster is easily the most low-life company in the US. How can Monster seriously consider Monster Transmissions to be infringing on your trademark?
Here's a hint for you. Ask 100 people what product comes to mind when the word "monster" is used. I guarantee you most people will say Monster Energy Drink, or Monster.com. Hell, even the cookie monster. But I bet hardly anyone would say Monster Cable. It seems that every comment you read about these Monster lawsuits are from people saying they are so disgusted with Monsters business practices, that they refuse to buy Monster Cables at all..... Maybe Monster should realize they are getting TONS of negative press about these stupid lawsuits, and are actually LOSING money by pursuing them. I know I will never buy another Monster Cable product, and I know I'm not alone when I say that.
Just imagine Ted. If Monster alienates even 1,000 people with their lawsuits (my guess is its even higher), think of how much revenue you are losing? 1,000 people x $100 per cable (ripoff) and you just lost 100k in revenue. Seems like you guys need to go back to business school. You should maybe try majoring in Business Ethics, since it seems like that concept has escaped your grasps.
Marshall @ Apr 10th 2009 9:02AM
Hi Ted,
I'd love to have you interview on my podcast. Feel free to contact me anytime to set something up.
Marshall
The Real HT Info Podcast
SH @ Apr 9th 2009 8:48PM
Monster never took action after the Blue Jeans guy made a fool of them with his splendid letter writing ability. I got a big kick out of the pdfs he has here:
http://www.bluejeanscable.com/legal/mcp/index.htm
Michael R @ Apr 10th 2009 5:31AM
Probably only a matter of time until Monster sues Monoprice.com for selling top quality generic cables for a tiny fraction of the Monster price
DJ @ Apr 10th 2009 8:58AM
What kind of screwed up legal system do we have that allows someone to sue someone else over the use of a common noun? Especially when it's used for other products totally unrelated to party claiming injury? Maybe a boycott of Monster's sales channels should be next, force them to drop the POS line. BTW, when are they going to start suing the porn sites that use Monster C*ck, Monster D&ck, in their names? Afterall, isn't that a Monster Cable?
Flowah @ Apr 10th 2009 11:07AM
My question is, where the hell does Monster get all this money? Ok, so maybe my friends aren't the dumb ones that go out and pay 200 bucks at retail stores for a 2' long HDMI cable from Monster, but I don't know a single person that has ever purchased a monster cable before. So, if they aren't getting any business, where the hell do they get the money to pay the lawyers?
Is there a demographic out there that has the money to buy their shit and NOT know what a rip off they are? Are they a big enough group to fuel Monster's ridiculous litigation fees?
junkiee @ Apr 10th 2009 2:10PM
BURN MONSTER CABLE BURN!!
anonymous JT employee @ Apr 10th 2009 4:48PM
I can tell you for a fact that my company JT Sports, LLC (We manufacture paintball products) was sent a cease and desist in October of 2008 over "Monster Ball Baintballs". I don't think anyone has really known about this incident, but I am trying to get the word out.
DallasJayhawk @ Apr 10th 2009 3:51PM
When is Engadget going to stop covering Apple products? Does not Apple do the same thing to anything named Apple or with an i in the name of the product? Correct me if you see a distinction but I don't get it.
dave @ Apr 12th 2009 11:37PM
Screw Monster Cable. I won't ever buy their products again. I got some speaker cables from them many years ago and they were ok and not too overpriced, but I will NEVER, EVER buy ANYTHING that MC sells. I'd love to see them go out of business.
It's a wonder they didn't sue the producers of the movie, "Monsters, Inc"
The best place for lawyers is at the bottom of the sea...