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Post by jeromemason on Jun 27, 2015 13:19:35 GMT -6
If Larry was smart (which hes not) he'd hire Jeff and have him run a Vintage Api line of gear . Thats what smart business men do , they see talent , potential and then hire them up no matter who they are . The main thing we need to do is get the word out everywhere that API is suing Jeff and boycott buying any API gear . Well, if you go back and look into some history, corporations have done exactly what you're suggesting, but, they can't allow loose ends so what they do is they strong arm the talents "own thing" and force him out of business. Then, because of the legal cost and because they know this person is in a time of desperation they offer employment with a smiling face. It's wrong, it takes down the entrepreneurs in this country but it happens everyday and that's where the ole line of "business is business" comes into play. My only thought is Jeff does have one product that is mass assembled and labeled with the CAPI name, the Heider. Now that circuit isn't anything as to what API has, but it does have that name on it. If they are going after him because of copyright issues the whole "DIY" sort of gets tossed out right here. That is something that is not a kit, and not DIY. What's happened here is that Jeff has gained so much ground and has become a preference over API that it's throwing their bottom line even further down the drain, it's horrible already, has been for a long time now. At some point or another, or it could be the main thought, your idea is being discussed at a board meeting. A forecast was made on the viability of the companies future, it was not good and then they see Jeff absolutely killing it over here. Then someone says, "we've got money, let's put him into the ground, then we'll create a classic division of our own and hire him to design the products, or we'll just rip him off because his company no longer exists." At that point in the settlement offer don't be surprised if they're bold enough to make a provision that Jeff become an employee of that division to offset the settlement cost. I'm not saying they'll win anything, likely it would come down to a settlement and some rebranding if a judge sided in their favor and if it was allowed to proceed to trial, at that point, settling is your only option. They got this in a Maryland court, the jurors wouldn't be favorable to Jeff, they see "C API." I really hope this gets worked out, I could only imagine Jeff's future and the products he's got in his mind, he's truly one of the old school designers who get's it right all the time. |
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Post by tonycamphd on Jun 27, 2015 13:19:26 GMT -6
I'm up to 23. and it's boiling my blood, i have to rest haha, they claim they were unaware of Capi's existence until January of 2015, which seems a lie considering all the public posts by API pre dating Jan 2015, PLEASE EVERYONE GO FIND API/LARRY'S POSTS WHERE EVER YOU CAN FIND THEM, QUOTE THEM AND SCREENSHOT THEM SO HE CAN'T DELETE POSSIBLE PROOF OF HIMSELF COMMITTING PERJURY!!!! They're ALSO trying to claim the Capi stuff is copying the venerable piece of shit 512c  What a crock of shit. |
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Post by Johnkenn on Jun 27, 2015 13:21:45 GMT -6
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Post by tonycamphd on Jun 27, 2015 13:23:12 GMT -6
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Post by Johnkenn on Jun 27, 2015 13:27:07 GMT -6
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Post by Johnkenn on Jun 27, 2015 13:29:19 GMT -6
CLEARLY, entirely different.
Btw - that's sarcasm...remember, this is the original vs the one that API "created."
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Post by EmRR on Jun 27, 2015 13:30:01 GMT -6
they claim they were unaware of Capi's existence until January of 2015, it seems a provable lie considering all the public posts by them and Larry pre dating Jan 2015 The knob debate between them goes back to 2009 as far as I know. Are we near the end of some sort of statute of limitations? Is that why it's part of the claim? |
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Post by tonycamphd on Jun 27, 2015 13:36:26 GMT -6
It just keeps getting more ridiculous!! It seems a law enthusiast could hand these guys their ass in a court! Hey Jeff, i'll represent you for a lifetime supply of free CAPI gear! haha  |
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Jun 27, 2015 13:38:16 GMT -6
So in 2008 they trademarked a Knob they had sourced from somebody else for years! Even in a dual concentric format? Larry is nuts, but his lawyers making money!
What's he going to do sue The guys who actually hold the copyright?
Larrys praying Jeff will roll over cause all Jeff's got to do is have his supplier show that their copyright outdates Larrys !
If Larry is having his Knobs made in China to his specs they can sue Larry! And if Larry has been buying from them he proves he's a douche!
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Jun 27, 2015 13:47:16 GMT -6
they claim they were unaware of Capi's existence until January of 2015, it seems a provable lie considering all the public posts by them and Larry pre dating Jan 2015 The knob debate between them goes back to 2009 as far as I know. Are we near the end of some sort of statute of limitations? Is that why it's part of the claim? Yep Jeff and I had a Exchanged messages about that on GS pre 2010, that Larry had sent him something, Hope Jeff kept it cause if Larry is using the same Lawyer he is pretty dumb! |
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Post by tonycamphd on Jun 27, 2015 13:51:54 GMT -6
It seems these guys could seriously be charged with perjury, no joke!   |
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Post by b1 on Jun 27, 2015 13:54:21 GMT -6
"Well, Your Honor, I liked the feel of, what shall be hereafter referred to as THE VEMALINE KNOB so much, I incorporated it into my designs.
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Post by b1 on Jun 27, 2015 14:00:09 GMT -6
This thread would serve as a good springboard for legal researchers.
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Post by scumbum on Jun 27, 2015 14:14:28 GMT -6
It seems these guys could seriously be charged with perjury, no joke! |
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Post by scumbum on Jun 27, 2015 14:25:02 GMT -6
Theres two threads on the purple Devil site , one in High End and another in So Much Gear So Little Time ,
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Post by ngallio on Jun 27, 2015 14:29:08 GMT -6
WTF can't believe this.
All my support to Jeff.
I wish I had the cash to buy some stuff from him right now but all in all I'm pretty happy as I bought 4 VP26's recently..
GO JEFF!
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Post by keymod on Jun 27, 2015 14:47:55 GMT -6
Someone already did. 'Twas Scum
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Post by jeromemason on Jun 27, 2015 14:48:54 GMT -6
IMHO I think this all stems from the Heider. The knob is the only straw to grasp to get it into court where they can make those arguments. If you read line 21. it's CLEARlY apparent that the Heider is what is setting them off. Possibly they left it alone while it was kits and such, but when a production unit was made that has been seen in pictures from Blackbird and such, now you've got an idea as to why they feel threatened. It's ridiculous, but they may feel that Jeff's business (and rightfully so) could eventually overtake them on a mass scale.
It sounds incredibly better than what they produce, it's made in the USA and people prefer it over their products. As long as it was DIY kits it was mostly limited to technically skilled people. They probably thought to themselves most would elect their fully built product than having to go through the trouble of either building, or finding a builder, and then they knew people would question the quality control even then. Now that there is a production unit it poses a threat in their minds and the knob thing is just a way to get it into court. That's just my opinion in a business mindset. I used to stock trade a lot, when you research a company you think of investing in you look at their competition and market share. API had the market share of that style of circuit in a production sense that could be delivered to sales companies, so they could care less if someone was doing DIY kits. If I had been looking into investing in them I would had looked at that, and saw it posed no threat to their future. Now the game is a little different because you have a company that is making a better product than they are and has the ability to mass produce it, that would make me question their relevance, future growth and future earnings.
There's no question they've known of CAPI for a long time. Every corporation has shills that are in forums and social media, that's the way of business today. They have to know about every little thing, they also have to have folks that seem to have no connection advocate for them. That was the whole problem of GS, the ones allowed to sensor were the ones most benefited by it, but with constant deniability. It would be hard to submit your own messages from Larry, but, if Jeff's side could find a way to summon the records of his private messages it's possible they could use it against him, but the privacy laws are insane, and also you're dealing with a web forum, just doesn't hold much weight in a court. If it were emails that could be matched with his own, then that's a different story, they do hold weight in court.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jun 27, 2015 14:51:49 GMT -6
Not in the one I'm looking at. Scum mentioned that Vemaline made knobs for several others but no one has pointed out that API did the EXACT SAME THING they are accusing CAPI of doing. They took Vemaline's product, made a few changes and now produce it in China. Whoever this Lob guy is, he says that Jeff has hacked their old designs...well, they have no competing product and no longer have patents on the tech...and also, if hacking old designs were illegal we would literally have to stop production on 99% of the products made today.
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Post by tonycamphd on Jun 27, 2015 14:53:14 GMT -6
TB audio, Heritage, AMI, BAE, Soundsculpter, Hairball, Purple, Serpent, wonder, flea, warm audio and any other company in the business of gear flattery or cloning should get in Jeff's corner to help fight this.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jun 27, 2015 14:57:37 GMT -6
The Heider doesn't use the "API Knobs". So I'm not sure where there is ANY infringement there. And to say it directly competes with API products? Well no shit - so does, Neve, BAE, Warm, Helios, Burl and about 700 other manufacturers.
Look - if he has to change the name, then so be it...but they want blood. They want money. This is about crushing his business.
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Post by jeromemason on Jun 27, 2015 15:02:36 GMT -6
I think a gofundme would be a damn good idea. Everyone is tired of the smaller business's in the country getting strong armed, if that could be made the argument in a fundraising campaign, people that don't even know what a pre amp is would start to donate. If Jeff can fight them with money it could have reverse effects, it really could. A lot of the counter claims everyone is talking about could be filed against them, it could be the death of that company all together if they are put on a level playing field. When corporations sue each other, it's usually pretty clear cut, and one of the sides has to know absolutely for sure their suit/charges is winnable. Then it becomes who has the best lawyer.
You get a good civil attorney that specializes in patents to pro bono this and API would be running for the hills. There is absolutely no telling what skeletons they have hiding in their closet's over there, you get a good enough team going and that suit is dropped fast.
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Post by Johnkenn on Jun 27, 2015 15:18:32 GMT -6
It's a noble cause...but man, it's dangerous. Who knows what a jury trial would bring? People that don't know a transformer from a transsexual in charge of your financial ruin...
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Post by joseph on Jun 27, 2015 15:21:46 GMT -6
So dumb. Now I'll definitely be buying some CAPI products in near future. It's not as if API was making anything that sounded like their 70s designs anyway.
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ericn
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Post by ericn on Jun 27, 2015 15:22:26 GMT -6
After reading the whole complaint Jeff might have some problems.
1. The Claim that the photos of his API console as background implies a relationship COULD have merit.
2. The claim that Jeff's blue Arrow mark could be mistaken for API's Double blue diode mark with the CAPI / API COULD have merit
3. Analog Services, Who Jeff has endorsed as a builder, used Classic API which is confusing Could have merit.
Jeff's problem is with these things in mind, the point about CAPI VP26 and API being confused on GS becomes larger.!
But Jeff's console is how old ? When Did API last make one ?
Larry Confused how many customers with ATI?
My 10 year old didn't confuse the logos either.
And the Whole Knob BS !
To hell with this I'm selling my 560! I love it but I don't want to see anything labeled API here!
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What a crock of shit.
