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iPod Knockoff Co. Hires Fake Lawyers In Monopoly Money Case

gizmodo.com — Apparently emboldened by a minor, years-old success against Apple's lawyers in Taiwan, iPod knockoff manufacturer Luxpro has decided to sue Apple, claiming that the company has monopolized the MP3 player market with a variety of unfair "schemes." Some of their arguments are compelling, namely when they bring up Apple's attempt to countersue...

Who dugg this? Made popular Oct 17, 2008

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  • grungefan, on 10/17/2008, -1/+26From the title I thought this was going to be from the Onion.
  • casbboy, on 10/16/2008, -1/+14Interesting idea, as they know Apple might just settle and kick over some money. Lame how many frivolous lawsuits there are... that win.
  • imnojezus, on 10/17/2008, -1/+12Apple doesn't settle. They might take a loss, but they'll take it in the courtroom.
  • mrbroli, on 10/17/2008, -0/+10I guess I'm missing the part where Gizmodo's article said that they hired fake lawyers. Unless you think Arkansas doesn't practice real law or something.
  • Khast, on 10/17/2008, -0/+9MP3 player design is nearly the same all around. I have a Sony Walkman, and it does look surprisingly like an iPod, Sanyo's MP3 player looks similar. I think the knock off companies shouldn't try to mimic the name that is where they will get the trouble.
  • inactive, on 10/17/2008, -1/+9it's unfair to us cause everyone and their mothers want one
  • qpid, on 10/17/2008, -0/+6You could also go with something that is not the iPod.
  • notfromoklahoma, on 10/17/2008, -1/+5I'm glad others saw "fake lawyers" and "Monopoly money" and thought this was a joke at first.
  • Claverhouse, on 10/17/2008, -0/+4Orig: "iPod Knockoff Maker Hires Knockoff Lawyers, Files Monopoly Suit Against Apple"
    Digg title : "iPod Knockoff Co. Hires Fake Lawyers In Monopoly Money Case"

    Kinda like Chinese Whispers on Digg these days.
  • diggzoid, on 10/17/2008, -0/+4FTA:

    Whether they'll take Luxpro's monopoly accusations seriously remains to be seen, but the filing makes it clear that Luxpro is after money, and lots of it.

    The amount in the suit: $75,000 - that's lots of money????
  • SkittlesUSA, on 10/17/2008, -0/+3Hell yeah! That should send a clear message to all businesses in America-

    Don't make your product TOO good, or you WILL be sued.
  • MacParrot, on 10/17/2008, -0/+3This wasn't about common hardware that almost every digital player uses. Apple isn't suing them because they use USB connectors, they are suing because the Luxpro player looked EXACTLY like the first gen iPod Shuffle.

    If Chrysler came out with a truck that looked exactly like an F150 you don't think that Ford would sue them?
  • MacParrot, on 10/17/2008, -0/+3So go complain to the copyright holders of the music which won't allow Apple to sell it without DRM.
  • necromancer, on 10/17/2008, -1/+4There really aren't as many as people think.
  • serif69, on 10/17/2008, -0/+3That is a lucid, intelligent, well-thought-out objection. Overruled.
  • silver26, on 10/17/2008, -1/+3Dugg for title.
  • HonestAbe, on 10/17/2008, -0/+2Proprietary connectors that you can only buy after entering a non-disclosure agreement are not monopolistic at all!
  • HuskyPuzzle, on 10/17/2008, -5/+7Ha, interesting strategy. Seems like they might have a chance. I can just see the vein popping out of Steve's forehead.
  • benologist, on 10/17/2008, -0/+2The submitter just threw that in for some bonus diggs for sensationalism.
  • Fhwqhgads, on 10/17/2008, -0/+2Typical of sore losers who can't compete with the winners to sue the winners. Nothing new here.
  • IxWin, on 10/17/2008, -0/+2Yeah, too bad their ***** knock-off factory doesnt have the technology to copy my iTouch... WRECKED!! Apple better grind them into dust.
  • theadvinci, on 10/17/2008, -0/+2Are they kidding or is this a semi-cheap promotion trick?
  • bbtweb, on 10/17/2008, -0/+2Apple won't settle, and based on what the article says at least, they shouldn't. Apple doesn't have a monopoly on the mp3 player market. MP3 players are made by other companies like Creative, SanDisk, Sony, Microsoft, and others. Luxpro clearly imitated Apple and are suing Apple for calling them out on it? That doesn't make sense.
  • smohan123, on 10/17/2008, -1/+3No one complains about generic drugs being developed to drive down the cost of the Real McCoy Tylenols, Viagras, Claratins, etc.

    Same thing goes with mp3 players. Let the free market reign! May Apple be forced to cut its (IMO) extremely high prices!
  • scooterbaga, on 10/17/2008, -1/+3Good thing you bought an apple product then...
  • HonestAbe, on 10/17/2008, -0/+1It uses a proprietary dock connector based on a standard connector made by Japan Aviation Electronics, except with special metal tabs added by Apple specifically to prevent people from making compatible devices without paying a royalty.
  • HonestAbe, on 10/17/2008, -0/+1And plug it into a Made for iPod stereo? Oh wait...
  • qpid, on 10/19/2008, -0/+1aux input....
  • method7670, on 10/17/2008, -0/+1Just more proof that you can sue over anything here in America, no matter how dumb of a law suit, or the person/corperation is.
    And to call them a monopoly is absolutely ridiculous, they haven't done anything un-lawful at all that would even force the federal government to step in.
  • Technopundit, on 10/18/2008, -0/+1Twice as much as they're worth.
  • AtraNoxVII, on 10/17/2008, -1/+2What are these unfair "schemes" that Apple has used exactly? I didn't see them mentioned in the article.
  • supersteve, on 10/17/2008, -0/+1who is dumb enough to buy one of these fake ipods? I know lets find a very successful product, copy it and give it a similar name. then when they sue us say they have a monopoly.
  • turpenine, on 10/17/2008, -0/+1they have settled but it is very rare
  • Technopundit, on 10/18/2008, -0/+1Bingo.
  • supersteve, on 10/17/2008, -0/+1i am sure he really cares

    ha!
  • PeterFile, on 10/17/2008, -1/+2Wow, that's hilarious!
  • freezz0823, on 10/18/2008, -0/+1If this was any other company there would be already a site called nozune.org or nowalkman.org or whatever mp3 player name, and a class action lawsuit filled, but since its apple lets turn our heads and pretend nothing is happening.
  • inactive, on 10/17/2008, -0/+1Yea because everyone knows MP3 players are being used to save lives...
  • inactive, on 10/17/2008, -0/+1We called it telephone in school.
  • r3zonance, on 10/18/2008, -0/+1"Proprietary connectors that you can only buy after entering a non-disclosure agreement are not monopolistic at all!"

    So why weren't Sony sued over using custom ports on the Playstation for the controllers...oh that's right, because it's perfectly legal.
  • inactive, on 10/17/2008, -3/+4Good! The fact that I can't get music off my iphone when I buy a new PC without non-apple supported software PISSES ME OFF.
  • tkaStryc9, on 10/18/2008, -0/+1There idiots don't stand a chance, not everyone wants an iCrap, I've never wanted to own one, if I found one I would either sell it or play hockey with it.
  • rowlodge, on 10/17/2008, -0/+1how much are those?
  • Technopundit, on 10/18/2008, -0/+1Who the hell is "Luxpro"?

    Screw those Chinese knockoff sellers, and their phoney auctions on ebay, too.

    This is a publicity attempt, to brand all the worthless defective unbranded Taiwan iPod knockoffs floating around.
  • Lithus, on 10/17/2008, -0/+1Generic drugs can't be produced until the patent on the name-brand expires. That's usually at least 5 years after the name-brand hits the market.
  • HolyChimp, on 10/18/2008, -0/+1You mean those PS3 and 360 controllers that use... USB?

    It's not illegal by any stretch, but it's an ***** thing to do, and Apple only does it to keep the 'Made for iPod' money rolling in.
  • HolyChimp, on 10/18/2008, -0/+1IT's nothing to do with the DRM. The iPods won't let you copy files off an iPod. Hard Drive and the iPod is your only musical backup? Tough. There are ways around it, but they aren't iTunes.
  • r3zonance, on 10/18/2008, -0/+1MP3 player, or medical drugs. They are both intellectual property and as such are afforded certain protections by law.
  • markgl, on 10/17/2008, -1/+1yeah weird that it looks the same. my car has 4 wheels like all the other cars. Ford should've sued all the other car companies for have 4 wheels just like their car!
  • minideezel, on 10/17/2008, -7/+7I thought Monopoly Money wasn't good for anything but the game Monopoly. So why would they sue for Monopoly Money
    /s
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