OT: Campaign to boycott Monster Cable company

Post by **The Robman** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 12:34 pm

It seems that Monster Cable, the guys that make the most over priced cables in the business, are filing law suits against every company that uses the word "monster", despite the fact that it's in the English dictionary. Trade marking "Tivo" or "Google" is one thing, but trade marking a word that's in regular use is just plain nasty.

So, if you are in agreement that this is shady stuff, just don't buy Monster product.

Here's the full story:
http://www.stopthemonster.com/

Here's an article about it from the Denver Post...
http://insidebayarea.com/businessnews/ci_2509361

Here's a thread about it from the AVS Forum:
http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthre ... did=489297

Here's a link to the government trademark site that lists all the Monster suits:
http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?qt=a ... er%20cable

If you're looking for alternative brands, the following have been suggested:
Tributaries Cables And Interconnects
Better Cables
http://www.cablewholesale.com/

chas6000 · Post by **chas6000** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 3:19 pm

can you offer a few links to sites describing good alternative products?

Post by **The Robman** » Mon Jan 03, 2005 4:23 pm

There a couple of alternatives suggested in the thread that I linked to.

e34m5 · Post by **e34m5** » Tue Jan 04, 2005 10:08 am

Monster makes the most overrated cables available. For much less you can make your own in any length.

Raw cable is available from Home Depot and the tools to crimp cables are inexpensive.

I wired my entire home theater this way.

classicsat · Post by **classicsat** » Wed Jan 05, 2005 9:44 am

For me, the dollar store cable is good enough, except for their S-video cables and RF coax (but I do buy their F-56 connectors). If I invest in some component video gear, I'd buy the $20 cables.

m.mckernan · Post by **m.mckernan** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 3:45 pm

I already boycott them as is - the price doesn't justify the performance. They aren't as good as many people would seem to think!

As for this latest adventure of thiers, it's just crazy. "Monster" is a descriptive word that has existed for decades, if not centuries.

Post by **The Robman** » Thu Jan 06, 2005 4:37 pm

Just imagine if Microsoft had decided to sue everyone who used the word "Windows"!

spooky · Post by **spooky** » Sat Jan 15, 2005 8:11 am

For heavens sakes Rob, don't give Bill any ideas like that.

don_dude · Post by **don_dude** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 1:04 pm

HOly Cow! they've gone too far... look at the last page of the US Patent Office link:

http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?qt=a ... er%20cable

They are after SCOOBY-DOO AND THE MONSTER OF MEXICO!!!

Monster cable is really stupid. Thanks for getting the word out about these jerks. I will never buy any of their products

Post by **ElizabethD** » Sun Jan 30, 2005 2:22 pm

When I saw the Denver Post link Rob posted, we got a bit worried.
Imagine a big

company possibly fighting this adorable creature:
http://okemo.snowmonsters.com/index.cfm ... myMountain
However, we just noticed this interesting, retraction?/twist of events?
http://www.snowmonsters.com/MonsterCable/index.html

afaa · Post by **afaa** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 10:08 am

I find Acoustic Research cables the best alternatives to Mon$ter Cable. They are twice as cheap but great quality. Bestbuy and CircuitCity sells them. AR cables are gear toward the mass consumers. Other mass consumer cables are RadioShack cables. Good quality, reasonable price.

I've never purchased Mon$ter cables and will never buy them.

GLT · Post by **GLT** » Fri Mar 04, 2005 11:12 am

"A fool and his money are soon parted."

Apparently enough of them to make an industry out of it.

Hey, shouldn't this be in the marketplace forum?

GLT

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OT: Campaign to boycott Monster Cable company

OT: Campaign to boycott Monster Cable company

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