Monster Cable still evil, will allow Monster Mini Golf to exist for just $100/month (per franchise)
By Nilay Patel 
posted December 15th 2008 5:59PM
posted December 15th 2008 5:59PM
Well, it looks like Monster's trying to rehab its image: the company's put up a site today called "Monster Mini Golf Truth" that apparently makes public a proposed settlement agreement between Monster Cable and Monster Mini Golf. As you'd expect from a company as ham-fisted and reflexively nasty as Monster Cable, it's basically another attempt to exert a death grip on the word "Monster." Monster Cable says it's dropping the lawsuit and that the mini golf people can still be called "Monster Mini Golf," but only if they pay a $100 / month license fee and agree that Monster Cable owns the mark outright. In turn, Monster Cable will donate $100 each month to two different charities, including one that gives Segways to disabled veterans. Sure, it sounds nice, but it's notable that Monster Cable is trying to settle this in public rather than in the conference room of a law firm -- Monster Mini Golf stands a fair shot of winning this one in court, and we'd bet they've already turned this offer down privately. We don't know how this one will end, but we do know you probably shouldn't have the CEO of your company saying things like "We're not some big corporate Mongols" in a video designed to sway public opinion. It's after the break, in case you were wondering why the ban on Monster still stands.
Update: As one astute reader's pointed out, Monster Cable is asking for $100 per month, per franchise. With twenty-two franchises, that adds up to $2,200 a month.
If you can't innovate, litigate!
Monster cable did not invent the word Monster. They have lost my business for life, and I'm a huge HT advocate.
I don't think Engadget should boycott Monster Cable anymore. I think they should devote a little energy to telling the truth about digital cables. And how spending 100's if not 1000's of dollors on digital cables 'HDMI' is pointless. Because the cheapest digital cable will work just as good as the most expensive cable. ITS DIGITAL, making a platinum and gold doesn't make a digital signal any better.
Then watch Monster fall under it's own weight. It can't support their business model if they can't sell a product at over 1000% markup.
This company is the epitome of evil, they are a soulless small business predator that makes overpriced products. They actually have staff whos sole responsibility is to look for copyright infringement cases so they can extort money from other companies who dare use the term "Monster" as if they invented it.
Whoever their PR firm is made a biiiiiig blunder by releasing this tasteless video reeking of desperation.
Monster has tried to negotiate a settlement for several months. Its worth mentioning that Monster Mini Golf went public with this issue first. Monster is simply responding in the same way. Its very easy to bad mouth a company that you're not familiar with, so Monster has taken the initiative to create a complete picture of the situation in posting MonsterTruth.com
The HDMI question is a very popular one. All cables are not the same in the same way that your old dial up modem is not the same as your cable connection. Both transmit data, but one can move more faster. The same is true of cables made for standard resolution television, 720p, 1080i, and soon to be released higher resolutions.
Now that BOTH sides of the story have been posted (as well as a very sexy video from Noel himself) I have to say that his "Truth" page is riddled with semantics. While accusing MMG of telling half-truths, he is spewing half truths in every direction. Anyone who has looked into this case knows that his responses are directed at the uninformed masses. Wrong move Noel! The masses are indeed informed of your terrorist tactics! Cleverly, in the youtube video Noel is pleading his case in person. An attempt at public sympathy, I'm sure. Yet he does it in front of a collection of gold records that rivals Michael Jacksons'... I mean, really Noel, maybe his next video will feature himself pleading about how he is a small struggling mom and pop company, while leaning up against one of his 53 vehicles (how bout the Bentley). Give Me A Break!! Noel Lee reminds me of when my brother and his friends used to hold me down and punch me... and Monster Mini Golf reminds me of when I started hitting back!! It's Never Over! Go get em' MMG!
Ok, not only does Monster make outrageously priced cables that perform no better than the copper wire in hangers. But now they think they own the word Monster. Boy are they stupid. If you ask me the Monster Mini Golf logo looks more like the Monster Energy Drink Logo. Which looks nothing like the Monster Cable Logo.
Is it him the owner of Monster Cable? if it is him then the scene of Chapter 11 is about to unfolding in front of you. I used the RJ-45 for any connection with the e-appliances I have, only without the flashy looking of the connector head. I am not in the class of people who ready to pay a hefty amount of dolls for a pair of cable, just to try to find the differences of wave spectrum phases, which is normally our pair of ears won't be able to detect, except looking at the oscilloscope if got one. It's ridiculous to pay over 100 dolls for something like Monster cable just to make us feel completeness for the preferences of audiophile. Regardless of any technological explanation the manufacturers may produce about their products, a cable is a cable and does what a cable does, no more and no less. A $300 HDMI Monster cable won't get you the quality of the Blueray player if you connect it to a DVD player capable of up-converting spec. Furthermore, the quality of whatever you desire depend on the whole circus of gadgets. I've long known that Monster cable is making their products looked superb by making it look good. I won't boycott Monster Cable because I've never want to buy one with the name Monster Cable.
The cold, dead body of Bobby "Boris" Pickett weeps...
Heh. They've disabled rankings and comments now. There's only one comment actually shown, and it is feeble.
Stick your overpriced cables up your arse and shove off, Monster®™©.
PS - Did you know "Monster Cable" is an anagram of "Calmest boner"?
I love monoprice.com! They have super cheap prices for super quality cables that far surpass Monster crap.
Folks, I know there's a lot of hating in here but please, take a moment to check out the http://www.monstercable.com/monster_truth/ site to get our point of view. We're only doing what any business would to protect our trademark from becoming genericized, abused, diluted, you name it.
And yes, we know how people feel about all this so we've dropped the lawsuit. This puts our trademark, something we've spent a lot of time and money building, at risk. Our trademarks were registered fair and square with the US trademark office, and we have an obligation to protect them.
Please put yourselves in the shoes of a business or artist trying to protect their intellectual property so they can continue to earn a living from it, and keep others from profiting from their hard work. We're in the same boat. Again, we'd really appreciate it if you took a moment to consider our point of view, because the last thing we want to do is lose customers just because we're trying to protect our business.
Hey Eric,
It's obvious that you are a company man working hard for the Head Monster himself so you must know all of the facts... right? Well, then you certainly know that Monster Cable has not sued but started some form of litigation (like the one with M.M.G.) with somewhere around 400 companies... right? This "liticious” action, as planned, ran the little guys out of money and business before it ever went to court... therefore technically you didn't sue them but you still used your monetary leverage to uproot peoples lives and business. Very few people have Noels' vast wealth therefore could never afford to oppose him so he doesn't even have to sue... cuz he wins by forfeit.
Now that the semantics are out of the way, let’s clear the path for Truth.
If you were a fair American company then you would let the Trademark offices do there job... which you have seemingly done (a little late)... right? BUT You dropped the lawsuit after your opponent dropped in the vicinity of $200,000 in b@llshit legal fees... this is a waste of everyone’s time and money. A well timed business move in this economy if I say so myself.
Now, since you are well versed in how this game works, you knew in advance that this was going to happen (after 400 or so "actions", I believe you've got the hang of it) yet Noel still sits there and tries to play the victim. Your boss spends approx. a quarter of its yearly budget on Lawsuits, then drives home in one of his many exotic vehicles to his sprawling mansion (it's awesome, I have seen photos) Meanwhile, the poor M.M.G. employees, franchisees and golfers (that’s Children Noel) don't know the future of the company. Now you are faced with a "Nothing to Lose" scenario. Monster Mini Golf and all that love this fabulous product have come out in droves (strength in numbers) to encourage you to stop. Your "Brand Name" is NOT being confused with most of the “Monster” derivatives that you go after. It's not like they tried to trademark Monster Cable Cars, or Monster Cord... or in direct competition with YOU in the audio cable industry! If they were, sue away!
The fact is, Monster Cable wants to be the only business with "Monster" in its name so they exploit a loophole in the system (and I use the term "exploit" loosely)… because they can. Unfortunately for you, in the court of public opinion another phenomenon is occurring. You are re-branding yourselves as we speak… Monster Tyrant!
Crap next on the list is Halloween, then Monster Garage, then Monster Mash (dance fav). Where is this going to end. I take this personal since I came of the closet and have been living openly as a Vampire (not LeStat gay).
About the only thing that's absolutely right in Lee's statement is that you do have to defend your trademark lest you lose it. That's how trademark law works.
What he may NOT be right about is what his company is doing and the apparent ferocity at which it is doing it. That and on a commonplace English word.
Oh, and as for Apple, I think Lee omitted one thing: Apple Corps doesn't entirely like the idea that Apple Computer Inc. makes those iPods he cites. So it goes both ways.
Not to mention, didn't 7-Up get into a spot of trouble with its doomed cola brand, "Like", because the name was a commonplace English word?
Given everything I've seen this far, this has become a serious "Monster PR Nightmare" for a company engaging in "Monster-Scale Litigation".
--IJ.
What an insane thing for Monster Cable to do. I just checked -- the US Trademark Register lists 932 trademarks with the word "monster" i them. Will Monster Cable sue all of them?
This is VERY educational.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIf8HLZK6a8
This is also educational:
Youtube: Noel Way Out
Peace and Love!
Just in case anyone interested in wondering, there is a boycott goin on against monster cable. and good upstanding americans are writing in to these places to summon the ghost of christmas past to remind retailers not to pay attention to the products or tactics of noel lee or his monster corporation monster cable.
Best Buy Public Relations Department
Email: [email]NewsCenter@bestbuy.com[/email]
Phone: 612-292-NEWS (6397)
Circuit City contact page:
[url]http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/contactUs.do?mail_type=other[/url]
lmfao! If anyone one enjoyed the video ffom Noel Lee at the top of this page, then you'll LOVE this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=38CRLVLjOhM
Well, they provide a feedback address at the bottom (truth@....).
Not that I was especially fond of them before, but they have definitely lost any chance of getting my patronage.
I am finally getting on the bandwagon. Today, I just got wind of this issue during the morning news show.
I know the company, I am not surprised. And to the guy Erik...find another job. MC has been doing this since the start. It is unfortunate that companies that tried to make it didnt. FYI...they also sued the Discovery Channel for Monster Garage also...
Snap shot: Picture the back parking lot of MC the day after a layoff and you will find a new luxo car being delivered.
MC is deteriorating internally, like it's owner, due to it's owner (and son). MC's own Director of manufacturing and distibution can take the honors for part of that (and xBose "south of the border" team mates). In terms of loyal employees....hummm, are they still there or have they been fired....for some "stuipd" reason....? The tide is turning on them. And how about their customer base? The cycle "to not carry MC products" is coming again. Circuit City was a main account....how about Best Buy? Logitech....better watch your back or have they shafted you on the remote deal? How about the MFG's of their products, the company that helped them from the beginning? Oh yeah, they get the shaft from them also....go figure.
Thanks to the internet, people are now "communicating" and understanding the real value of their products. Yes, there are companies "like" MC that sell cable at very high prices. But, they play the game to survive along side the competitor, MC.
Oh and lastly....the "son" used to work for Apple. Lets just say it DIDNT WORK OUT....hehe.
Gee, I'm surprised they didn't sue Pixar over that movie " Monsters Inc"