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Monster Madness: Monster Energy Drink's Hired Trademark Trolls Go After Movie Monster
from the this-is-getting-insane dept
We've recently covered how beverage company Hansen's hired a company called Continental Enterprises, who has a long history of abusing trademark law for profit (i.e., getting big companies to allow it to send threat letters to anyone who in any way uses a mark, even if it's clearly not a violation of trademark), and because of that, a small Vermont brewery and a beverage review website found themselves on the receiving end of legal threats.
Apparently, the monster madness doesn't stop there. Andrew points us to the news that that Continental Enterprises, on behalf of Hansen's and Monster Energy Drink has also threatened a working actor who was in a monster movie a few years ago, and had a photo taken of himself in costume holding a Monster Energy Drink. This amusing joke photo is apparently too much for the fine folks at Continental Enterprises, who insist it's "advertising and/or selling products that are confusingly similar to Monster Energy Drink" and demand that he cease and desist.
At what point does Hansens and Monster Energy Drink realize that in this deal to outsource trademark bullying to Continental Enterprises, they've done significantly more harm to their own brands?
Reader Comments (rss)
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Let's take the next step
Hey,
How can we get Monster Cable and Monster Energy Drink introduced to each other. They can spend so much time fighting each other that they leave everybody else alone.
Tas
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Maybe their advertising budget has been cut recently?
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Re: Let's take the next step
After reading this ... makes me wonder if the two of them would cancel each other out and the world would simply be rid of both. Win Win!
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"At what point does Hansens and Monster Energy Drink realize that in this deal to outsource trademark bullying to Continental Enterprises, they've done significantly more harm to their own brands?"
Well it is getting Monster Energy Drink in the news...
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Free Advertising
So a guy in a monster costume holds up a Monster Energy drink for a picture and the good old outside law frim sends a statement that says "advertising and/or selling products that are confusingly similar to Monster Energy Drink".
I'm confused now because that's not a smimilar product that IS the product.
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Sigh
I'd really enjoy seeing these lawyerly rejects try to serve a C&D to a Gila Monster only to have their collective faces ripped off.
"Stop that salacious slithering you Gila thing!"
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Who cares what they do... they're still one of the better energy drinks out there... so I'll keep buying.
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Maybe Mike should take a picture holding up a Monster energy drink then when they send a C&D he can explain to them how the whole trademark system works
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i hope they don't sue me...
i'm always telling the ladies i've got a monster in my trousers.
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Bad advertisement is good arvertisment?
"Well it is getting Monster Energy Drink in the news..."
Yes, but in a very negative way. I admit that both the wife and I will occasionally drink this class of beverage when coffee isn't readily available and a pick-me-up is needed, especially on long road trips. We will be avoiding this brand in the future, just one more in a long line of "product" we're already boycotting. There are always alternative choices.
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Re: Bad advertisement is good arvertisment?
Musicians, Artists, Actors, all claim that there is no such thing as bad press as it is a bigger problem for nobody to know who they are than for people to hate them.
I am positing that Brand Recognition can be viewed in a similar light.
It is better to be recognized (good or bad) than have nobody know who you are.
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PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
Monster Energy Drink and Monster Cable should sue the asses off each other so that the lawyers end up with all their money. That would be awesome! Monsterly Awesome! Jackasses
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So why hasn't Monster Energy Drink sued Monster.com? I could easily see myself while looking for a job suddenly realize that I meant to drink something and have all kinds of irreparable harm follow.
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Re: i hope they don't sue me...
Somehow I don't think they are too concerned with small stuff. ;-)
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What the heck is it with companies named Monster. The name should be stricken from ever being allowed again.
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Great Method of Losing Customers
I am going to be careful to never buy Monster Energy Drink or any other Hansen's product.
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Re: Re: i hope they don't sue me...
Oh, nasty - but funny.
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Re: i hope they don't sue me...
Oh, you may have a monster but I have one of these, http://bcenergy.co.nz/products.php, and I must say that all the girls where I work have had there hand on it at least once. They just go quiet with their mouth wide open...
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"Who cares what they do... they're still one of the better energy drinks out there... so I'll keep buying."
Is that because you share the same PLANT ingredients?
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Monster Energy vs ????
So let me see, is Monster going to sue Disney or Pixar for using the names "Monsters, Inc" or "Monsters VS Aliens"? I would never have known that those movies had nothing to do with the energy drink. . . oh wait a minute I guess I would as I'm not a frickin idiot. Who the hell is going to get a Black can with three green claw marks confused with a 22oz glass beer bottle with a label that is completely different? I mean really folks, come on and get serious. F*@#ing Lawyers!!!!!!
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Boycott Hansens products...
Since the first news of this broke out, my family and friends have stopped using all of Hansens products. Including Monster. They are all outraged by the actions of Hansens.
Hansens is just another corporate jerk-off. They can be added to the list of shame, right next to companies like disney, the riaa (alias: mu$ic MAFIA), and micro$oft (alias: micro$haft). They should feel right at home there. The friggen TROLL bastards!
..Nuf Said!
:p
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Anyone who wishes to inform Hansen of their madness may contact them at:
Hansen Beverage Company
550 Monica Circle Suite 201
Corona, CA 92880
You could also email them but snail mail tends to get a bigger response than email.
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Re:
And they look so good too...
The only person who things that there's no such thing as bad publicity never had bad publicity.
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Re:
they're still one of the better energy drinks out there
Are you kidding me? I'd rather lick the ass out of a menstruating skunk that drink that stuff. Worst tasting drink EvAr.
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Re:
Unless, perhaps, said email has a few "surprises" attached...
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hi
monster energy is the best source of vitamin and i will alway drink it ha ha.
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ii Likee Monsters(:
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