A cease and desist letter from Monster Cable to Blue Jeans Cable, alleging various sorts of infringement of Monster’s intellectual property, draws a ferocious response from Blue Jeans’ president Kurt Denke, formerly a practicing lawyer. “Let me begin by stating, without equivocation, that I have no interest whatsoever in infringing upon any intellectual property belonging to Monster Cable. Indeed, the less my customers think my products resemble Monster’s, in form or in function, the better … It may be that my inability to see the pragmatic value of settling frivolous claims is a deep character flaw, and I am sure a few of the insurance carriers for whom I have done work have seen it that way; but it is how I have done business for the last quarter-century and you are not going to change my mind.” And much more (Audioholics; Slashdot).
“I would rather spend fifty thousand dollars on defense than give you a dollar of unmerited settlement funds”
A cease and desist letter from Monster Cable to Blue Jeans Cable, alleging various sorts of infringement of Monster’s intellectual property, draws a ferocious response from Blue Jeans’ president Kurt Denke, formerly a practicing lawyer. “Let me begin by stating, without equivocation, that I have no interest whatsoever in infringing upon any intellectual property belonging […]
6 Comments
I read the entire letter and I must say that it is the most complete, down-to-earth, common-sense bitch slapping I do believe I have ever read of such matters. Mr. Denke’s letter left me wondering how many of the Monster Cable attorneys had to just throw away their underwear after reading his response. Apple should buy his company and put him in charge of their IP legal department.
Personal favorite: “Not only am I unintimidated by litigation; I sometimes rather miss it.”
This makes me wish I had a big home theater project or something so I could purchase Blue Jeans branded cables.
“I would rather spend fifty thousand dollars on defense than give you a dollar of unmerited settlement funds”
And if more companies had this policy, they could all avoid BOTH options.
Nice letter — but this letter had significant input from a patent lawyer, not a mere litigator, as Kurt was. Krut clearly has professional help — and obviously professional help with a good sense of humor. Well done.
A fine bitch-slapping indeed. After he dispenses with Monster’s spurious claims, he then threatens the company with unfair business practice and anti-trust litigation, neatly turning their bluster around and shoving it straight up their keisters.
And he gets off great lines while doing it. As to the previous post which said he had help, well, a good lawyer, just like a good journalist, knows where to go for information.