Wing Tang Wong

Knowing What You've Got... And What You've Don't Got

If I were to ask just a random person on the street about Monster cable, they probably would have heard of them. They are a well marketed company that produces a lot of cables. They also produce various portable music player accessories, kits, and their price tag implies top quality stuff. Many people swear by them, others would rather just buy bulk and be done with it.

Now, if I were to ask those same random people on the street, whether they have heard of Blue Jeans Cable, they would probably not have. However, they are also a fine provider of quality cables, and are actually well covered in the audiophile world.

Both companies make cables for rather standard ports and connections. Sure, there are differences here and there, but for the most part, most of the proprietary stuff is specific to how the companies produce their cables, compositions, etc.

So, while it wasn't much news that Monster Cable issued a cease-and-desist letter to Blue Jeans Cable, it WAS news when it turns out that the president of Blue Jeans Cable, Kurt Denke, used to be a lawyer.

This is something that many other sites have reported on and is actually quite amusing to read, as it can serve as cheap education in how not to release the legal hounds... until you've done some digging.

• Gizmodo's Coverage
• Audioholics Coverage ( This is where I first read the article! )
• Engadget Coverage
• AudioJunkies Coverage

So, What's It All About?

Well, if you haven't gone and read the various coverages, please do so! Especially the Audioholics coverage, as theirs is quite detailed and they have a copy of the letter on their site.

A rundown of the issue is this:

• Monster Cable alleges that Blue Jeans Cable is violating their IP rights, specifically, they allege that there is patent infringement, with regards to the Blue Jeans Cables' Tartan(tm) brand of products.
• Kurt Denke, the president of Blue Jeans Cable, was a lawyer, and made the assertion that the claims that Monster Cable is bringing is both incomplete as well as without merit. (paraphrased)
• Kurt Denke also requests more information to properly evaluate Monster Cable's claim.
• Kurk Denke makes the assertion that should Monster Cable proceed, he will fight.
• Kurk Denke also points out that Monster Cable seems to be playing the "off shore tax shelter" game with their patents and that the patents themselves may prove to be invalid, when reviewed in a court of law.

Basically, if Monster Cable goes after Blue Jeans Cable, it will literally be hell for Monster Cable. Monster Cable, for whatever reason, didn't have their legal ducks in a row and decided to go bully another cable company, so that they can make more money by forcing Blue Jean Cables to sign a license agreement with them to avoid any legal entanglements over cable/connector related patents.

The only problem is, they might not have had any grounds to pursue Patent Litigation, in the first place. Worse yet, if Kurt Denke's assertions prove to be correct, Monster Cable may be looking at some problematic backlash from customers, investors, "licensed partners", and from the government.

"Publicity..."

Perhaps that old line of thinking that there's no such thing as bad publicity will work in Monster Cable's favor.

From my point of view, the publicity is definitely working in Blue Jeans Cable's and Kurt Denke's favor.

For my next online cable purchase, Blue Jean Cables is getting first whack.

Online Resources

• Monster Cable
• Blue Jeans Cable
• Gizmodo's Coverage
• Audioholics Coverage ( This is where I first read the article! )
• Engadget Coverage
• AudioJunkies Coverage
• Home Theater For Dummies (For Dummies (Computer/Tech))
• The Savvy Guide To Home Theater
• Home Theater for Everyone: A Practical Guide to Today's Home Entertainment Systems
• Master Handbook of Acoustics
• Audio/Video Cable Installer's Pocket Guide (McGraw-Hill Pocket Reference)
• Infringement of the United States Patent Right: A Guide for Executives and Attorneys
• Patent Infringement Litigation: Step by Step from Dispute Through Trial for Executives, Witnesses, and In-House Counsel
• Technology Patent Infringement Case Strategies: TruePosition Inc. v. Andrew Corporation
• Patent Failure: How Judges, Bureaucrats, and Lawyers Put Innovators at Risk
• Intellectual Property: Valuation, Exploitation, and Infringement Damages, 2006 Supplement
• Patent Litigation