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Pro Behringer!

#241
I've the stories and here's my summary. Uli is a musician. He had his own problems affording gear. After getting an engineering degree he opened up some of the gear and said "What a bunch of crap - I could build this just as good for hundreds less". And he did. There was a few mistakes here and there, just like any company. He only "lost" one lawsuit in public court over 20 years ago for $350.
He's made millions and is part of a huge music group comprising of several top brand names highly regarded in the music industry. Uli's companies have their own patents, copyrights, and trademarks, and he will sue your ass off if you try to steal them.

Times have changed, and although you can open up gear, there's all kinds of custom chips and software that makes them much hard to copy.

One exception is old Amps that still seem to be popular where any patents and copyrights have expired anyhow. But then even corner boutiques copy these except they sell them for thousands more than the originals.
 
#242
You guys can continue to justify and defend Behringer as much as you like. That is your perogotive. But ask, why do they need defending?
As far as "only one lawsuit lost" (and it wasnt $350) anyone with a passing familiarity to corporate law knows that it isnt as simple as that. They have settled many other cases out of court, meaning they likely paid off their adversary. Only a foolhardy or headstrong corporation takes a case all the way to the point of a guilty/not guilty verdict.

And uh, there are literally hundreds of current and former "musicians" out there that are very shady businessmen. A&R guys, nightclub owners, promoters etc.
 
#244
Calaverasgrande said:
You guys can continue to justify and defend Behringer as much as you like. That is your perogotive. But ask, why do they need defending?
As far as "only one lawsuit lost" (and it wasnt $350) anyone with a passing familiarity to corporate law knows that it isnt as simple as that. They have settled many other cases out of court, meaning they likely paid off their adversary. Only a foolhardy or headstrong corporation takes a case all the way to the point of a guilty/not guilty verdict.

And uh, there are literally hundreds of current and former "musicians" out there that are very shady businessmen. A&R guys, nightclub owners, promoters etc.
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$350k
Settling means you don't know, nobody does outside a small group in in company. All anybody can do is guess. Your guess is as good as any. My guess is the other companies crawled away when they woke up and faced they didn't have a leg to stand on.
 
#246
I have a Behringer BX bass combo (bought new) and I must admit - the thing sounds like bad bad dirt! I got it for my 15 year old yet I end up sending him to practice with one of MY amps (usually a Mesa). Just saying. I also have a Behringer Vampire 1x12 git amp for studio stuff - not too bad, can dial up some o.k. pre-set sounds with some tweaking. Still, I would never buy another Behringer
 
#247
caeman said:
Since you aren't defending my claims against Boss, they must be true. :)

People like me defend Behringer because people like you continue to spew your hate.
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I don't hate behringer. But you have to admit is kind of silly, all these threads claiming Essex, squire, behringer, Nady are as good as Mesa Musicman etc. It essentially implies that we are all wasting our money.
 
#250
Electricblue said:
About the copying other models thing, isnt that a good thing?

Offering a decent product, making it out of slightly cheaper parts and selling it as a cheap option to the real thing? Thats a plus point, I think.
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Unless you were the company that spent the money to develop the product in the first place. BTW do you have any good songs you have written. I would like to steal them and make some minor changes then call them my own. :D
 
#251
modulusman said:
Unless you were the company that spent the money to develop the product in the first place. BTW do you have any good songs you have written. I would like to steal them and make some minor changes then call them my own. :D
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"Minor changes" is where you'd need to be more specific than saying product A looks similar to product b. Take a look inside. Take a look at the schematics. Until you've done that, any claim of copying is pure speculation.
 
#252
modulusman said:
BTW do you have any good songs you have written. I would like to steal them and make some minor changes then call them my own. :D
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This has been going on for centuries and is not illegal or immoral. Change the arrangement, lyrics, etc and it is a new song.

The same goes for any pedal that any pedal maker has copied and modified. How many compressors on the market are based on the Orange Squeeze? Isn't that immoral? All those makers should be recreating the wheel! Boss is such a rip-off for copying that old design.

There are a lot of car companies that owe Ford a lot of money. Just think of all the features of the Model T that that other makers stole! Thieves!
 
#253
According the thought line by the haters in this thread, all cover bands should be sued out of existence and only original music bands should be allowed. How dare those cover bands make money on someone's hard work.
 
#254
caeman said:
According the thought line by the haters in this thread, all cover bands should be sued out of existence and only original music bands should be allowed. How dare those cover bands make money on someone's hard work.
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Those bands (or the clubs they play in) pay fees in order to play those songs, so your argument is invalid.
 
#256
caeman said:
And if that cover band plays at a private wedding, are they all so honest as to submit royalty payments?
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Do you pay income taxes on any money you make playing or are you still a bedroom wanker? There was a lawsuit against behringer where they completely copied another companies product IIRC. Maybe it was the boss pedals you keep talking about.
 
#257
I don't get paid to play music. I am a gospel musician in churches. I have no recorded songs that I sell. Thus, I owe no money. The churches I play in have CCLI payments. My conscious is clean.
 
#259
So, the moral of this story is, if any company copies another pedal's design, they are in the wrong.

What Orange-based compressor pedal owners will now agree to throw away their illegal copy and buy only the original?
 
#260
It essentially implies that we are all wasting our money.
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Ya, it kinda does, which is why I think so many people are upset with Behringer. I would hate to spend good money and then find out someone else is offering the same thing for half the cost. Because I understand this, I can clearly understand why those who already spent the cash on the more expensive item would try in any way they could to justify the purchase by discrediting the competition.

Now, some will repeat any hearsay that backs that view without any conformation so that is why we hear over and over about lawsuits. Name one company that never had a lawsuit? each one of you claiming the lawsuit and morality issues are being hypicritcal. I promise you something you own from the gear you play to the computer you are typing your messages was involved in a corporate lawsuit at some point.

Ever drink a Coke-A-Cola? Does it make you a Nazi Sympathizer? I would seriously riducule to death anyone making claims about Behringer if they EVER have a single can of Coke again.

In all seriousness, any quality control issues Behringer had have been addressed, I've been making a point of discussing it with the local retailers and they are not returning Behringer products on warranty any more than any other brand. So there is another peice of history that people can't seem to stop repeating for the same reasons they can't forget the lawsuits.

All because Behringer gave you something for half the cost that to some of you
... essentially implies that we are all wasting our money.
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-eSmith.
 

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