Mobster Cable

ORIGINAL: Nate
Nate's ill-informed info snipped

Nate: Have you ever been sued or involved in litigation regarding service mark or trademark registration? I'd bet not.

I have. I won. You're wrong on most of your suppositions. Monster is abusing the legal system. Please find a single case where there's actually BEEN a ruling. As far as my research has shown, they've never WON anything, other than out of court settlements and backroom agreements.

Talk to a trademark/copywrite/service mark lawyer... they'll clear up a number of misunderstandings about our legal system for you. Shouldn't cost you more than $200 an hour or so, but it'll save you quite a bit of pain in the future, when you attempt to pursue frivolous litigation over Nate Audio.

Corey

Who do these Monster guys think they are anyway.... Waves?

Know what would be cool? Print up some "Boycott Monster Cable" stickers and pass them out to musicians so that they can slap them onto Monster display racks in stores. Of course, I wouldn't stoop so low myself, but it would be one way to get the word out. Just make sure they're the really sticky kind that you have to use a razor blade to remove. Not that I'd actually condone such mischief myself. But it would be cool. Day-glo colors would be appropriate. Not that I'd actually go to Office Depot and buy neon labels (Avery part number 5994, $14.95 for 360 labels) and print them up at home. But that still would be pretty cool if someone did.

ORIGINAL: bitflipper

Know what would be cool? Print up some "Boycott Monster Cable" stickers and pass them out to musicians so that they can slap them onto Monster display racks in stores...

Come, now. Let's take the high road here. It's not the fault of the stores and most of them are just trying to get by much like the myriad businesses that Monster is suing. If you want to make a bumper sticker or a t-shirt, that's cool, but let's not go sabatoging businesses to protest a company that sabotages businesses. (I know that wasn't your intent, bitflipper).

Seriously, tell the clerks who direct you towards the Monster rack what's going on. Encourage them to check out the Madmartian web site. I know of more than one GC employee who felt bad about previous sales of Monster Cables once they found out what was going on. And those sales clerks have no reason to feel bad, but if they can be persuaded to reconsider selling the monster hype, I think it *will* make a difference.

Cheers.

Yeh, you're right. I guess. Anyone actually following my previous suggestion should know that I was just kidding. Mostly.

I like the "Boycott Monster Cable" tee-shirt idea, though. It would give me a reason to actually go into a GC store and hang out.

ORIGINAL: bitflipper ~ I like the "Boycott Monster Cable" tee-shirt idea, though.

Be sure to get Monster's permission to put their name on the Tee.

Let's register boycottmonstercable.com (still free) and send them the URL. Loads of info pages on MC's bad practices and how-to's for making your own cables. I'll do the pages, if necessary.

That's a truly delicious idea. Even if they sue to make you give up the domain, they'd have to live with the publicity from shutting down boycottmonstercable.com. That might even raise the issue across the quantum threshhold of newsworthiness and earn a mention in the mainstream press. It would certainly make it into Slashdot if nothing else.

Nate: Have you ever been sued or involved in litigation regarding service mark or trademark registration? I'd bet not.

I been on both ends of copywrite infringment (back in the performing days), and had to defend against both trade and service mark infringement.
None of the cases made it to court due to agreements to use arbitors each time. So while I wasn't in court, I did win each time since I was either paid out or given a closure on any further infringement.

Monster is abusing the legal system. Please find a single case where there's actually BEEN a ruling. As far as my research has shown, they've never WON anything, other than out of court settlements and backroom agreements.

I'll leave it at this: The courts determine if someone or some group/corporate/LLC or what ever are abusing the system. Everyone bleating about it means nothing in light of the continued court cases.

Talk to a trademark/copywrite/service mark lawyer... they'll clear up a number of misunderstandings about our legal system for you. Shouldn't cost you more than $200 an hour or so, but it'll save you quite a bit of pain in the future, when you attempt to pursue frivolous litigation over Nate Audio.

Sorry to irritate you so. But I'm already protected. Take a look around and ask your industry friends what Papanate means in the music bidness. If you are in the industry you'll see where we stand with Sony, BMI, Disney and a few others.