What Happened to Industry News. Like, Looking at all the Companies for different Information. Like, Alesis, Roland, Allen & Heath?

-- Daron Lawson (Dlawson638@Aol.com), February 07, 1998

Answers

The same thing that happened to everything else on AOL. They pulled the stopper and it all went down the digital drain. Into the digital wastebasket. Shredded like so many digits. Now it's just another sector with a teeny bopper chat room residing on it. Even Craig didn't get copies of everything before the space was swiped clean.

But yours is a great idea. I propose that we make this an Industry News thread and share whatever's going on, from rumors to fact. Tell us what you've heard.

Lynn Fuston

-- Lynn Fuston (Go3daudio@mindspring.com), February 08, 1998.

I was on the phone with one of my old friends from school who works for Sam Ash. He told me that the Mackie vs. Behringer suit has been dropped or settled. He found out on Tuesday 2/3/98. I'll keep my eyes peeled for more news on it...

-- Jay Kahrs (BrownSnd14@aol.com), February 08, 1998.

WOODINVILLE, WA. - February 6, 1998 - Mackie Designs Inc. (Nasdaq:MKIE) today made the following announcement: On Friday, January 30, 1998 the US District Court for the Western District of Washington ruled that Mackies case against Behringer Spezielle Studio-Technick Gmbh, Ulrich Bernard Behringer and Samson Technologies Corporation would proceed in Seattle. The same court said that Mackie should bring its case against Sam Ash Music Corporation, Richard Ash and Scott Goodman in a different court, which Mackie intends to do. The litigation, until now tied up in procedural matters, will now proceed to substance. In the open court hearing, Samson, Behringer and the other defendants admitted that Mackies design patent was valid and that they had stopped selling Mackie patented products after the lawsuit was filed. The court therefore removed the patent claims from the lawsuit on the basis that it was no longer the subject of dispute. The complaint for trademark and trade dress infringement, dilution, copyright infringement, breach of contract, unfair competition and joint venture will proceed as claimed in the United States District Court for the Western District of Washington at Seattle. Samsons victory dance is premature, stated Chief Operating Officer Roy Wemyss, following review of their press release received yesterday. We are pleased with the Courts decision to keep most of the lawsuit here and we look forward to proving Mackies claims. This matter is in the hands of our lawyers while we focus on our business. I am confident that our effort to protect our intellectual property rights will prevail and that both our customers and the industry will benefit long-term. Mackie has invested heavily in research and development over the years, and continues to do so for the benefit of our customers. Evidence collected at NAMM in Los Angeles last week confirms that the market appreciates true and real innovation, a testament to Mackies focus on user friendly products.

-- Ken/Eleven Shadows (ElevenShad@aol.com), February 11, 1998.

February 5, 1998

JUDGE DISMISSES MACKIE CLAIMS

Syosset, NY -- Samson Technologies Corp. CEO, Scott Goodman announced today that the US District Court for the Western District of Washington has dismissed the patent infringement claim brought by Mackie Designs, Inc. against Samson's supplier Behringer Spezielle Studio-Technik GmbH.

The Judge's opinion also dismissed all of Mackie's claims against Goodman, Sam Ash Music Corporation and Sam Ash CEO, Richard Ash, and threw out as unreliable the only evidence Mackie could muster to support its claim of intentional wrongdoing in the case.

Although the litigation may still continue as to some other claims, Goodman noted, "This decision confirms everything we said at the outset of the case. We are now in the process of preparing with our legal counsel, a major countersuit against Mackie for among other things, slander, libel and defamation.

"It is regrettable that so much time and energy has been wasted on what we've claimed from the beginning to be a spiteful and mean-spirited lawsuit."

-- Ken/Eleven Shadows (ElevenShad@aol.com), February 11, 1998.

You know, if Mackie ends up being successfully countersued by Behringer, Samson, and Sam Ash, my dwindling faith in the American system of "justice" will drop to a new low. From the moment I first saw the Behringer 8-bus, and having knowledge of Behringer's history of circuit-stealing from Aphex and others, I knew Mackie had a valid case. For a company to make money by ripping off other companies' R&D (and farming it out to nations with questionable labor practices) is unjust, unfair, and (hopefully) unlawful. If the defendants are somehow able to cause Mackie further grief over their theft of design, circuits, and ideas, I hope Uli Behringer and Sam Ash rot in hell.

-- John Bartus (jebartus@bellsouth.net), February 14, 1998.

I hope Sam Sam rots for a diffrent reason... I hate them because when I go to buy something I usually get blank stares from the "employees", and I use that term loosely. Yes there are some people who actually know and use the stuff they sell, But I've had people that work there tell me "I don't know what it does, but my boss says it's cool". I think a corporation of that size could at least hire people that know what 57 looks like.

-- Jay Kahrs (BrownSnd14@aol.com), February 15, 1998.

My previous post may have sounded a bit harsh, and I apologize for the bad sentiment. It just gets me a bit riled up to think that Mackie could be victim of a countersuit by the idea thieves.

John Bartus * Radio Active Productions * 1-888-93-RADIO

-- John Bartus (jebartus@bellsouth.net), February 16, 1998.

I had no idea that litigation was going on between Mackie and Berhinger. And to think that I got sucked into a sly sales pitch, and actually almost bought one of those Brokenhinger 8 bus boards. I did my homework and Mackie 32/8 bus won, fair and square. Chalk one up for Mackie quality and design !

-- Kenny Lipowski (Zamar06@aol.com), February 23, 1998.

<,You know, if Mackie ends up being successfully countersued by Behringer, Samson, and Sam Ash, my dwindling faith in the American system of "justice" will drop to a new low.>>

O.J. didn't do it for you?

-- Doug Robinson (Jazzooo@aol.com), February 23, 1998.

<>

Of course, that case redefined what many of us think about our "justice" system. There really is no justice unless you have a really deep wallet...or so it seems. Depressing...

-- John Bartus (jebartus@bellsouth.net), February 23, 1998.

When they turned on the first DTV (digital television) transmitter in Dallas earlier this month, all the heart monitors at a recent hospital stopped working. DTV may hold more surprises than we thought. Read about it on the 3D Audio "FYI" page. http://www.3daudioinc.com.

-Lynn Fuston

-- Lynn Fuston (go3daudio@mindspring.com), March 23, 1998.

Check out >http://www.3daudioinc.com/3daudio_fyi.html< for info about a new CD-R player/recorder from Philips.

Lynn Fuston

-- Lynn Fuston (go3daudio@mindspring.com), July 14, 1998.