Monster Cable learns nothing, sues Monster Transmission

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

[sethmo @ Apr 9th 2009 1:54PM]

Why dont they sue Monster Energy drinks too?

[Juaquin @ Apr 9th 2009 1:57PM]

Because Monster drinks might actually have enough money and lawyers to fight back.

I'm not sure why Monster cables is going to all this effort to make money off lawsuits - do they not make enough money off of $100 HDMI cables already?

[insky @ Apr 9th 2009 2:04PM]

They already did.

[sweet greggo @ Apr 9th 2009 2:05PM]

Monster Energy drink is distributed by Coca Cola, so it's safe to say they have enough money to fight something like this. No doubt the douche running Monster Cables will never go after a company that actually has any money.

Reading this makes me wish again and again that the court system would implement a "frivolous lawsuit" penalty. Make it, oh, QUINTUPLE what the "plantif" is suing for. Maybe that will clear the courts a bit.

[Makavre @ Apr 9th 2009 2:22PM]

don't forget Monsters vs. Aliens ....

[sweet greggo @ Apr 9th 2009 2:24PM]

Holy crap, I just took a look at their page on wikipedia. That company is evil.

And in case you're wondering, the DID sue Monster Energy Drink.

And Pixar for Monsters, Inc.

And Discovery for Monster Garage.

And Monster.com

Plus, even though they are an "american" company headquartered in California, they are Incorporated in Bermuda, so's to avoid federal income taxes.

[MeatPop @ Apr 9th 2009 3:37PM]

Thay did: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2004/11/08/BUG1J9N3C61.DTL&type=business

[slyd3z @ Apr 9th 2009 4:12PM]

Somehow, I couldn't imagine seeing a television listing for "Big-ass Truck Jam" (M*nster Jam) on Speed.

[Steve Miller @ Apr 9th 2009 9:32PM]

DAMNIT i was gonna say that...oh well

What about that show that used to be on discovery channel i believe....Monster Garage?

[Steve Miller @ Apr 9th 2009 9:35PM]

...crap just read that someone else said that already...sigh...ill just low rank myself and waddle on over to my monster corner... (dnt sue me plz)

[iamnotafish @ Apr 9th 2009 1:54PM]

Monster Cable, an evil, manipulative overpriced company suing one of the last American based performance auto shops. Has a nice "Fox News at 11!" ring to it.

[AHAHAHAHA!!! @ Apr 9th 2009 2:16PM]

I emplre All Americans to STOP purchasing anything that bears the mark "Monster Cable" AKA "We mark-up Made in China stuff and then we take your money and buy Non-American Cars...

And try not to buy anything that does not have packaging in Red White and Blue...

[AHAHAHAHA!!! @ Apr 9th 2009 2:27PM]

They should also sue the PRON industry...

MONSTER COCKS

[minh do @ Apr 9th 2009 2:51PM]

i will NEVER buy another Monster Cable product again.

[DirtyVegas @ Apr 9th 2009 2:34PM]

Maybe everyone else should sue Monster for ill repute, because when I see that name I think "oh, the company that makes overpriced shit"

[Blacksheep @ Apr 9th 2009 2:38PM]

Can someone sue Monster Cable over the rigged displays? For false advertising/price gouging or something like that? I mean, I don't have the money to hire a lawyer for that, but I think it would be the appropriate course of action considering their cables are no better then $15 cables and the fact that they continue to sue people for using the word Monster in any way, shape or form.

[Patrick @ Apr 9th 2009 3:21PM]

@ minh do -

why did you buy in the first place? don't like money, eh?

[Ito @ Apr 9th 2009 4:21PM]

This company is the biggest piece of shit in existence. and here I had thought that they had learned something with monster mini-golf...how foolish of me to think that this company could be able to learn ANYTHING!

[Why should I have all the fun? @ Apr 10th 2009 8:56AM]

Next to be sued:

Monster.com
Monster Garage
The Monster Mash
The Munsters
Munster cheese ...

[billy bob thorton @ Apr 11th 2009 5:07PM]

everyone should send David Tognotti [e-mail] a letter. I did.

[Kirby @ Apr 9th 2009 1:54PM]

I met Kevin Lee (the son of the founder of Monster Cable). He's quite the asshole:-D

[paragraph @ Apr 9th 2009 1:54PM]

Who's Next? Monster Garage? I don't think they want to mess with Jesse James.

[sacapuntas @ Apr 9th 2009 2:03PM]

Actually they are going to sue over the movie title "Monsters Inc." . They will also sue anyone who has ever produced a "Monster film" such as cloverfield or godzilla.

[Dan @ Apr 9th 2009 2:05PM]

Oh yeah, Monster Garage - especially since Jesse James is a bit more in the celebrity limelight these days.

Next thing you know they'll sue somebody for the song Monster Mash

[tom @ Apr 9th 2009 2:24PM]

"Monsters Inc" ??? Are you kidding me? Do you know who made this movie? It's Pixar.

Who owns Pixar? Disney (and Apple) In other word, Jobs has a piece of it.

That D*ck wouldn't dare to do that.

Monoprice FTW !

[Stephen Lang @ Apr 9th 2009 2:26PM]

I think they are going to just sue all monsters, and issue them a cease and desist order to stop their monster ways.

[Joel @ Apr 9th 2009 3:06PM]

Sesame Street presents: Cookie Beast

[220v @ Apr 9th 2009 1:57PM]

Attorneys are vermin.

[Nilay Patel @ Apr 9th 2009 2:00PM]

Hey! I resemble that remark!

[barry99705 @ Apr 9th 2009 2:09PM]

@ Nilay Patel

You're a rat?

[bandigolo @ Apr 9th 2009 2:13PM]

Monster CEO: "Here's the deal, GC - Our biggest partner-in-crime, Circuit City, is now defunct and we're going broke. Plus, we have no real engineering talent in-house, so you obviously have no patent prosecution to concern yourself with. Go find us a quick and shameless way to make a few million dollars or you're fired."

Monster GC: "Uh ohhhh... (Thinks to self how many attorneys are unemployed right now) ...OK, let me get the Yellow Pages."

[Chris C @ Apr 9th 2009 2:46PM]

@Nilay

Sometimes rats are cute, so... don't take it too personally :)

You are, like, the Remy of vermin! :)

[Phenoum @ Apr 10th 2009 9:28AM]

cmon now Nilay - we just like to think you them as the cute little bugger from Ratatouille ;)

[DirtyVegas @ Apr 9th 2009 1:55PM]

I love it when Engadget gets all aggressive. :D

[ran @ Apr 9th 2009 1:57PM]

RAWR!

[Backlin @ Apr 9th 2009 2:50PM]

I guess you can say their aggressiveness makes them sound like a monster.

Oh crap! I'd better hire a lawyer!

[Game_playa @ Apr 9th 2009 10:59PM]

lol

[brett @ Apr 9th 2009 1:55PM]

this company seriously turns my stomach...

[bandigolo @ Apr 9th 2009 1:55PM]

Oh for Christ's sake.

[kyle @ Apr 9th 2009 3:57PM]

MONOPRICE!!!!!!!!!! all i gotta say.

[james @ Apr 9th 2009 1:56PM]

I think Discovery and Monster Garage would have a better stand against Monster Transmissions than Monster cable (read: Snake Oil). But what do I know, I'd never buy a Monster cable.

[Chris @ Apr 9th 2009 1:57PM]

I think a better tactic than boycotting their cables would be to email Best Buy and tell them you won't shop there anymore because of this.

[infernal666 @ Apr 9th 2009 2:15PM]

Dude,I work for BestBuy and I buy my HDMI cables at Wal-Mart. Gotta love Philips.

[Rob @ Apr 9th 2009 3:26PM]

Walmart? What happened to Monoprice.com?
When it comes to cables, they got the best prices.

[dandmcd @ Apr 9th 2009 4:34PM]

Why would you buy your cables from Wal-Mart, your employee discount enables you to get Rocketfish and Dynex cables for a few dollars, better then even Monoprice.

[mithinco @ Apr 9th 2009 1:58PM]

When will some other Monster company sue Monster Cable?

[bandigolo @ Apr 9th 2009 2:14PM]

When they invent time machines that allow you to pre-date your trademark.

[Frank @ Apr 9th 2009 2:24PM]

@bandigolo - I was wondering what to call my new time travel company. Thanks for the inspiration. Look for an upcoming engadget post about Monster Time Travel (tm).

[insky @ Apr 9th 2009 2:35PM]

When will some other "Cable" company sue Monster Cable?

[bandigolo @ Apr 9th 2009 3:13PM]

lol. Frank, I look forward to your impending lawsuit.