4 ms·

I seem to remember the company behind either Monster Cables, or Monster energy drinks, going after anyone that used the word “monster,” even in casual context.

vitally3643 3mo ago
It was Monster Cables who, blessedly, are nearly irrelevant nowadays. Apparently they tried to pivot into online gambling a few years ago.
- lrae 3mo ago
  I mean, it might also be Monster Cables, but Monster Energy is still doing it :). https://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/article/monster-energy-company-heads-trademark-bullies-top-10-list-not-all-it-seems https://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/article/monster-energy-... https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/gods-and-monsters-started-monster-trademark-fight-with-monster-energy https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/gods-and-monsters-started... https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-46369442 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-46369442 https://www.thegamer.com/monster-energy-goes-after-glowstick-entertainment-for-using-the-word-monster/ https://www.thegamer.com/monster-energy-goes-after-glowstick... https://www.koreaboo.com/news/yg-entertainment-wins-trademark-case-baby-monster-energy-singapore-court/ https://www.koreaboo.com/news/yg-entertainment-wins-trademar... https://www.gamesradar.com/monster-energy-has-even-gone-after-pokemon-and-monster-hunter-for-daring-to-use-the-word-monster/ https://www.gamesradar.com/monster-energy-has-even-gone-afte... and many more.
- ButlerianJihad 3mo ago
  Actually I have grabbed a couple of USB-C Monster-branded cables at the hardware store, and they work great as replacement charging cables for my devices (Chromebook and Pixel phoned) for rapid charging at 6 feet rather than 3.
  - HDBaseT 3mo ago
    They aren't bad cables, they just are over priced. Decent warranty though.
    - ChrisMarshallNY 3mo ago
      I always got a kick from that test they did, where a coathanger was indistinguishable from monster speaker cables. https://www.engadget.com/2008-03-03-audiophiles-cant-tell-the-difference-between-monster-cable-and.html https://www.engadget.com/2008-03-03-audiophiles-cant-tell-th...
agilob 3mo ago
or Facebook going after anyone with ...book in the name.
adamrezich 3mo ago
See also: Edge Games https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edge_Games#Trademark_disputes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edge_Games#Trademark_disputes
anigbrowl 3mo ago
Every large company does this to some extent, because thre's a concept in US trademark law that if you don't aggressively and pre-emptively defend your mark then 'constructive abandonment' becomes a valid defense against infringement. That means people can rip off your trade mark and then say in court 'well, I thought he company had given up ownership of the trademark because they didn't sue 'monster plush toys', so I decided to call my energy drink 'Monster Brew.'' This is also why US companies slap a 'TM' next to every instance of their trademark, even though it becomes a visual distraction in graphic design terms. Lawyers will argue that if you don't aggressively police the bounds of your intellectual property at all times then it evaporates.
- Ey7NFZ3P0nzAe 3mo ago
  > Lawyers will argue that if you don't aggressively police the bounds of your intellectual property at all times then it evaporates. Can't help to notice that in this case lawyers tell companies to buy more lawyer time.
tomkarho 3mo ago
The most ludicrous case of trademark issues I've seen to date has been Apple suing Prepear because they had a pear as their logo but Monster suing someone because of the term monster is not far from falling equally as far from the tree of wisdom and common sense.

vitally3643 3mo ago

It was Monster Cables who, blessedly, are nearly irrelevant nowadays. Apparently they tried to pivot into online gambling a few years ago.

lrae 3mo ago
I mean, it might also be Monster Cables, but Monster Energy is still doing it :). https://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/article/monster-energy-company-heads-trademark-bullies-top-10-list-not-all-it-seems https://www.worldtrademarkreview.com/article/monster-energy-... https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/gods-and-monsters-started-monster-trademark-fight-with-monster-energy https://techraptor.net/gaming/news/gods-and-monsters-started... https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-46369442 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-berkshire-46369442 https://www.thegamer.com/monster-energy-goes-after-glowstick-entertainment-for-using-the-word-monster/ https://www.thegamer.com/monster-energy-goes-after-glowstick... https://www.koreaboo.com/news/yg-entertainment-wins-trademark-case-baby-monster-energy-singapore-court/ https://www.koreaboo.com/news/yg-entertainment-wins-trademar... https://www.gamesradar.com/monster-energy-has-even-gone-after-pokemon-and-monster-hunter-for-daring-to-use-the-word-monster/ https://www.gamesradar.com/monster-energy-has-even-gone-afte... and many more.
ButlerianJihad 3mo ago
Actually I have grabbed a couple of USB-C Monster-branded cables at the hardware store, and they work great as replacement charging cables for my devices (Chromebook and Pixel phoned) for rapid charging at 6 feet rather than 3.
- HDBaseT 3mo ago
  They aren't bad cables, they just are over priced. Decent warranty though.
  - ChrisMarshallNY 3mo ago
    I always got a kick from that test they did, where a coathanger was indistinguishable from monster speaker cables. https://www.engadget.com/2008-03-03-audiophiles-cant-tell-the-difference-between-monster-cable-and.html https://www.engadget.com/2008-03-03-audiophiles-cant-tell-th...

agilob 3mo ago

or Facebook going after anyone with ...book in the name.

adamrezich 3mo ago

See also: Edge Games https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edge_Games#Trademark_disputes https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edge_Games#Trademark_disputes

anigbrowl 3mo ago

Every large company does this to some extent, because thre's a concept in US trademark law that if you don't aggressively and pre-emptively defend your mark then 'constructive abandonment' becomes a valid defense against infringement. That means people can rip off your trade mark and then say in court 'well, I thought he company had given up ownership of the trademark because they didn't sue 'monster plush toys', so I decided to call my energy drink 'Monster Brew.'' This is also why US companies slap a 'TM' next to every instance of their trademark, even though it becomes a visual distraction in graphic design terms. Lawyers will argue that if you don't aggressively police the bounds of your intellectual property at all times then it evaporates.

Ey7NFZ3P0nzAe 3mo ago
> Lawyers will argue that if you don't aggressively police the bounds of your intellectual property at all times then it evaporates. Can't help to notice that in this case lawyers tell companies to buy more lawyer time.

tomkarho 3mo ago

The most ludicrous case of trademark issues I've seen to date has been Apple suing Prepear because they had a pear as their logo but Monster suing someone because of the term monster is not far from falling equally as far from the tree of wisdom and common sense.