Rubik's Brand lawsuit against The Cubicle

[Reed Merrill]

It's easy to say that, until you're personally faced with organizing an event of that scale. Turning away the money and support they bring to the party hurts the event, not the sponsors. Rubik's Brand is going to benefit from any press covering competitions regardless of whether or not they sponsor them. Only speedsolvers know no one is using a Rubik's brand in competitions, the rest of the world sees a bunch of "Rubik's Cubes".

I see the same basic problem with the boycott talk. Only the speedsolving community cares and we're already passively boycotting Rubik's brand because they're inferior. You can't inflict any damage with a boycott when you're not spending any money there in the first place.

Not just to poo-poo on ideas or attack anyone's suggestions but I think you have to consider where the carrots and sticks are.

Ok, good point! For the other side of my post about how things like this dispute over similar products have almost always just fizzled out, do you agree? I don't think that we need to worry too much about this lawsuit.

 

[pglewis]

My completely speculative guess is still that they'd like to charge a licensing fee on non Rubik's brand cubes but they need to test the legal strength of their trademarks before they can negotiate. I have zero legal background and this is nothing more than a guess. A licensing fee would give them passive income from the stuff we're buying; I'm not sure how putting a halt to sales of non Rubik's brand cubes from TheCubicle gives them that sort of benefit. The only other logical thought is that it's something personal between the two. I have no reason to believe that other than it would explain the action.

 

[pglewis]

One other thing that strikes me as odd (and highly questionable) is the repeated references to TheCubicle being "a manufacturer". AFAIK they do not manufacture any puzzles, either in the sense of having an injection molding operation or having anyone else manufacture their designs. Sending my guitar through my luthier to change out the pickups, do a setup, and string it up to my specifications is a service and does not make him a guitar manufacturer.

 

[Aamir Saifee]

But what I'm wondering is why the cubicle Only? Why not scs even they have a custom line? Why are they just after cubicle I think as they have the most sales.....

 

[VenomCubing]

My completely speculative guess is still that they'd like to charge a licensing fee on non Rubik's brand cubes but they need to test the legal strength of their trademarks before they can negotiate. I have zero legal background and this is nothing more than a guess. A licensing fee would give them passive income from the stuff we're buying; I'm not sure how putting a halt to sales of non Rubik's brand cubes from TheCubicle gives them that sort of benefit. The only other logical thought is that it's something personal between the two. I have no reason to believe that other than it would explain the action.

It is my belief that they are doing this purely to reduce competition in the market.

 

[cuber314159]

But what I'm wondering is why the cubicle Only? Why not scs even they have a custom line? Why are they just after cubicle I think as they have the most sales.....

they are the biggest US cube store so suing them will prove they have the legal strength to sue all US cube store.

 

[lejitcuber]

I know most people in this thread, recently at least are from America, so you may not have seen that Euros 2018 in Madrid are bypassing Rubik's as a sponsor for the competition

 

[pglewis]

It is my belief that they are doing this purely to reduce competition in the market.

Quite possibly, and that's how it reads to me at face value. I'm seriously hoping they understand the dynamics between the sport and the brand better than that and this is just phase one of some potential legal shell game. Speedsolvers aren't buying their hardware but if the sport is exciting and growing it gets press, and that strengthens their brand awareness. I personally think halting good hardware for the sake of reducing competition hurts them more by hurting the sport, and I don't believe they're naive enough to think competitive speedsolvers are going to switch to buying Rubik's brand simply by putting a halt to online US retailers selling superior competing puzzles.

tl;dr: That strategy only works if the end result is us buying Rubik's brand hardware and I see that as a "lead a horse to water" situation.

Keeping in mind most of my thoughts on the matter are seriously biased by not wanting to believe this is as malicious as it appears at face value

 

[Tabe]

My completely speculative guess is still that they'd like to charge a licensing fee on non Rubik's brand cubes but they need to test the legal strength of their trademarks before they can negotiate. I have zero legal background and this is nothing more than a guess. A licensing fee would give them passive income from the stuff we're buying; I'm not sure how putting a halt to sales of non Rubik's brand cubes from TheCubicle gives them that sort of benefit. The only other logical thought is that it's something personal between the two. I have no reason to believe that other than it would explain the action.

This would be my guess as well. It's not like they'll stop the manufacture of cubes from Moyu or whoever. *IF* they win against the Cubicle, one of three things will happen: 1) Cubicle disappears; 2) Cubicle sells Rubik's brand stuff only; 3) Cubicle pays a licensing fee and sells whatever they want. The one that makes Rubik the most money is #3.

Rubik (Seven Towns, to be more exact) *HAS* to know that if they shut down US sites, we'll all just start ordering from Lightake or whoever and taking our chances on Customs seizures. Stuff like that happened in the past when V-Cubes was intent on enforcing their patents and it didn't stop people from ordering cubes.

In other words, we'll all still be able to get our cubes, it just might a little more challenging.

 

[mark49152]

I know most people in this thread, recently at least are from America, so you may not have seen that Euros 2018 in Madrid are bypassing Rubik's as a sponsor for the competition

Source? Unless an authoritative source has disclosed that the WCA/organisers or Rubik's have declined to work together, I suspect the sponsorships have simply not been finalised yet.

 

[CornerCutter]

Is this really as big a deal as everybody is making it? What will happen if Rubik's wins?

 

[cuber314159]

Is this really as big a deal as everybody is making it? What will happen if Rubik's wins?

If Rubik's wins then the cubicle will probably have to shut down, this may mean other cube stores can be sued. The cubicle (Chris Tran) is responsible for the existence of magnetic cubes which have in turn reduced the world records to unexpected levels.

 

[Mellis Ferton]

It's not a matter of respect, but political pressure. Most of the people here have, in my observation, a fairly high opinion of Erno Rubik, but are very upset with the company that bears his name. Gan makes good quality puzzles, no one is denying that, the problem that Gan may be able to help with is a political one, and a boycott is a political action.

Like I said, they haven't done anything. Boycotting them because they are affiliated makes no sense.

 

[Kit Clement]

Source? Unless an authoritative source has disclosed that the WCA/organisers or Rubik's have declined to work together, I suspect the sponsorships have simply not been finalised yet.

Very bottom of this candidacy page: http://madrid2018.cubecomps.com/

 

[shadowslice e]

Very bottom of this candidacy page: http://madrid2018.cubecomps.com/

I feel like they should make it more explicit now though (I believe that this was before the whole fiasco?)

 

[pglewis]

Very bottom of this candidacy page: http://madrid2018.cubecomps.com/

Eeeen-teresting.

 

[mark49152]

Very bottom of this candidacy page: http://madrid2018.cubecomps.com/

Very interesting, thanks. It doesn't make specific reference to Rubik's and I guess the reality could still work out differently to the aims set forth in the candidacy page, but reading between the lines, this page seems to say something about recent history leading up to the lawsuit.

 

[One Wheel]

Like I said, they haven't done anything. Boycotting them because they are affiliated makes no sense.

No, it makes perfect sense. It's like refusing to vote for a Republican congressional candidate because you don't like Donald Trump. They are affiliated. We as a speedcubing community have little or no influence on Rubik's, because we don't buy their product anyway. As virtually the sole customer base of Gans we have tremendous influence on that company.

 

[Ronxu]

No, it makes perfect sense. It's like refusing to vote for a Republican congressional candidate because you don't like Donald Trump. They are affiliated. We as a speedcubing community have little or no influence on Rubik's, because we don't buy their product anyway. As virtually the sole customer base of Gans we have tremendous influence on that company.

Many people like Gans cubes and I doubt Rubik's cares about how many cubes Gans sells. The only result you get from boycotting them is fewer good cubes.

 

[Aamir Saifee]

they are the biggest US cube store so suing them will prove they have the legal strength to sue all US cube store.

Cool but I hope this never happens!