Monster Cable has agreed to drop a heavily mocked (by us, anyway) trademark lawsuit against Monster Mini Golf after a private phone call between the founders of the two companies. Great, now you won't be able to tell if you're playing mini golf or being gouged by a cable manufacturer. [News10.net] (Thanks to Trever!)
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I do wish we could see a transcript of that conversation.
Tipster here. This is potentially great news as precedent for other pending trademark infringements, but I'm still a little unclear how I'll ever differentiate between my overpriced coat hangers and the glow-in-the-dark indoor golf park down the street. Sigh.
Since we know it's coming, I'll start the list, feel free to post the ones I miss:
www.monoprice.com
www.bluejeanscable.com
www.newegg.com
Too little too late. Hubby wanted HD cables to hook up his new PS3... We went to 3 different Radio Shacks and each were out of stock of Radio Shack cables but had plenty of Monster cables... I had to explain to hubby why we don't buy from Monster cable and he ended up getting cables for under $10 at Game Stop of all places...
Yesterday I went into Best Buy and bought Monsters Inc. I had to return it because the disk didn't fit in the little holes in the back of the receiver let alone reach the speaker. Let me tell you, I wrote a strongly worded letter to that mini golf course!
@chemmy: Please tell us that the lawsuit wasn't the only reason you were loath to shell out a hundred bucks for a cable.
@samurailynn: Between the mainstream media mentions of this PR disaster and the fact they can no longer piggyback an overpriced sub-par product on strong consumer spending alone, it was probably three hours of "How can I make this nightmare go away?" from the head monster.
Woah. Were they visited by the ghosts of A Christmas Carol? That's amazing that they did a 100% turnaround.
Wait, I'm so confused! I thought the Monster Mini Golf manufactured HDMI cables, and was suing Monster Cable because Noel Lee founded a chain of monster-themed putt-putt courses, made completely out of overpriced entertainment furniture and food products?!?
It's a shame they dropped this lawsuit, now I'll be confused forever :(
So based on the letter posted on the monster mini golf site its glaringly obvious that the ONLY reason Lee decided to drop this whole thing is due to the negative press.
That means WE won!! Great job, Consumerists!
I really am absolutely baffled by this whole thing. Did Monster Cable seriously not expect consumer and media backlash for suing a mom & pop Mini Golf chain? Now they try to swoop in and claim to be a hero by saying "let's forget this ever happened" ?
Through their selfish corporate acts, all they got was a TON of bad press, and now a couple hundred thousand dollars' worth of fees to cover the people they sued. Awesome business sense, dumbass.
1) Is MonsterGolf going to return the many donations made to their company to fight Monster Cable?
2) Sounds like a case of the "Lawyers" (similar to a case of diarrhea) was running amuck and when adults could sit down and discuss the problem the problem would suddenly disappear.
Oh, and most importantly.....
3) Is MonsterGolf going to return the many donations made to their company to fight Monster Cable?
@chemmy: My hubby went to RadioShack to buy HD cables and the RadioShack guy tried to convince him that for HD you have to "buy the best". So, my husband told him that "digital means it works or it doesn't work - give me the cheap cable".
That's great news! To celebrate, I am going to watch Monsters Inc. tonight (with the blinds closed and the sound turned way down - just in case)
@Corporate-Shill: They made this statement back in December on their eBay auction page:
"It should be noted that this campaign will NEVER become a profit center. In the even that this campaign produces enough response to actually exceed the cost of the defense, EVERY PENNY of the overage will be will be donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities. To learn more about this wonderful organization, visit www.rmhc.com"
Seems more then fair, since their is no real way to refund the money.
@Corporate-Shill: "2) Sounds like a case of the "Lawyers" (similar to a case of diarrhea) was running amuck and when adults could sit down and discuss the problem the problem would suddenly disappear."
I call shenanigans. The attorneys wouldn't file this suit without the permission, knowledge and signature of at least one officer of the corporation. What kind of corporation lets it attorneys run amok? It's very clear from the Mr. Lee's letters that he thought he had a moral obligation to protect his trademark as it is, and only the very vocal public outcry against him made him change his mind (as evidenced by the very lengthy delay before he called a halt to it).
Classy lawyer-bashing, though.
@Borax-Johnson: As long as you've hooked up your system using Monster cables, there is no trademark violation, and you're fine.
@samurailynn: Errr, umm - okay, a poor choice of words on my part. Precedent by common definition, certainly not the in the legal sense, agreed.
@downwithmonstercable: It's hard to understand what Lee's thinking from his letter, but he seemed to be fairly convinced he was in the right and acting to protect what was his (which, in this case, is rather inexplicably the use of the word Monster) and he didn't really think of anything beyond that.
The whole passing the blame onto his attorneys is an asshole move, too. (Even if I think the suit has no merit and is an abuse of the judiciary that the attorneys should've avoided, he should take responsibility for the actions of his own company.) All-in-all, he doesn't sound like anyone I'd really ever want to associate with. Ever.
I wonder if Christina would hire me as a freelance proofreader/copy-editor. Sheesh!
But anyway, good for them.
Badass! I'm going to play a round of golf tomorrow.
So I was trying to read this article and I just couldn't. It was crazy, the words were all jumbly bumbly and I wasn't sure if I was on Consumerist.com or if ESPN's redesign was as bad as I expected.
BUT THEN I decided to try plugging my computer into a Monster power adapter and WHOA! what a difference! I hit 3 under par, aced hole #7 and can speak French! TOTALLY worth the $185!
Monster really isn't in the business of selling cables, rather they are in the business on squatting trademarks. Oh, you want to dance to the Monster Mash?! Sued! Monster in your closet? Sued!!!! Cookie Monster?! Sued!!!!
@billbillbillbill: From the letter "In addition, we [Monster Cable]will cover your attorney's fees so you are not burdened with them as you go forward in pursuing your business."
I predict that the cost of Monster HDMI Cables will now increase 50% to $200.
@ElizabethD: noel could use a proofer also:
I will say that this is a landmark kind of situation, as public opinion wins over what is the right thing to do for trademark protection of a[n in]famous mark.
there. i fixed it.
I played a round at Monster Mini Golf. The price was much higher than the mom-and-pop mini golf courses, but I've been told that the Monster Mini Golf has much higher quality golf balls.
Monster Cable must think we're all stupid morons if they think we will be confused by another business using a similar name. I will NEVER buy their over priced products because of this.
Yay!
@t325: Sure there is -- a desire to hook up a new device immediately, combined with a lack of storage space for extra cables.
Even with my box o' cables, I've still had to make the occasional run to Radio Shack.
I wonder if they are now going to focus their efforts on Monster.com now? I always get those confused: uploading my resume and searching for a new job, vs. running trans-Atlantic cable 3 ft between my TV and receiver. Better yet, Monster.com should go after them...
Meh they had Monster Cables on sale for 50% off. When hubby gets a new toy, he will pay anything to use it immediately. I'd never spend that much on a stupid cable. I found it odd that Radio Shack was consistently out of stock on their own cables and pushed these instead...
And by "agreed to drop", they mean "realized they had no chance at winning and were attracting boatloads of bad PR".