Monster Cable learns nothing, sues Monster Transmission
By Nilay Patel 
posted Apr 9th 2009 1:51PM
posted Apr 9th 2009 1:51PM
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
I seriously dislike Monster.
First it was Circuit City.
Now Blockbuster is going down.
Please, PLEASE can Monster Cables be next! Please!?
Have they sued Pixar yet?
Yes. Monster.com, Monster energy drink too. If you name it, they have. And they've won a good number of them too.
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!
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.
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.
If you have the need to overspend for cables, I definately recommend the Audioquest brand as a great alternative.
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.
My God! They are monsters!!!
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
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
Oh yeah and you can get them for dirt cheap on www.monoprice.com
Next thing you know they'll be suing Sesame Workshop (formerly Children's Television Workshop) for the use of the name "Cookie Monster."
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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?
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?
BURN MONSTER CABLE BURN!!
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.
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.
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...