Rubik's Brand lawsuit against The Cubicle

[Tabe]

This case is about a lot more than "a distributor." A lot of the case hinges on the pro shop "manufacturing" cubes, which means that if Rubik's wins they can pretty much immediately shut down SCS no questions asked. I don't know if anybody else in the US does custom cubes on any scale, but shutting down two of the biggest US distributors (and likely others) would have a chilling effect on cube availability and innovation.

How many people do you think buy from SCS or The Cubicle but don't know about Lightake or the other Chinese sites? I'd say not many and the lawsuit won't touch the Chinese sites.

 

[One Wheel]

How many people do you think buy from SCS or The Cubicle but don't know about Lightake or the other Chinese sites? I'd say not many and the lawsuit won't touch the Chinese sites.

That's a fair point. I guess in my mind the US stores are higher-margin accounts, but there probably isn't much difference, if any, from the manufacturer's perspective.

 

[Dr_Detonation]

I don't see why they're just sueing the cubicle. If they really bad a problem with it they'd do something else. Rubik's is probably just mad that TheCubicle has better business then them. They do, right?

 

[shadowslice e]

I don't see why they're just sueing the cubicle. If they really bad a problem with it they'd do something else. Rubik's is probably just mad that TheCubicle has better business then them. They do, right?

That's exactly why they are suing them. What would you suggest they do otherwise?

 

[pglewis]

I don't see why they're just sueing the cubicle. If they really bad a problem with it they'd do something else. Rubik's is probably just mad that TheCubicle has better business then them. They do, right?

They're not just suing The Cubicle, they've been consistently pushing to assert trademark claims: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisabr...s-you-are-so-sued-and-im-famous/#95e0b1265a99

I currently doubt it'll stop there If they succeed (or maybe even if not).

 

[Competition Cuber]

Does anyone know if anything is happening?

 

[mark49152]

Does anyone know if anything is happening?

Don't hold your breath. Their legal action in Europe took 10 years.

 

[Underwatercuber]

This case is about a lot more than "a distributor." A lot of the case hinges on the pro shop "manufacturing" cubes, which means that if Rubik's wins they can pretty much immediately shut down SCS no questions asked. I don't know if anybody else in the US does custom cubes on any scale, but shutting down two of the biggest US distributors (and likely others) would have a chilling effect on cube availability and innovation.

and then cube manufacturers would also lose a lot of business if the main cubestores shut down meaning that they would be making far less money and that would affect them.

 

[cuber314159]

and then cube manufacturers would also lose a lot of business if the main cubestores shut down meaning that they would be making far less money and that would affect them.

Or people buy more cubes because they are cheaper from Chinese stores, I think it will balance out ok, I wouldn't be surprised if lightake and MCM want Rubik's to win

 

[Reed Merrill]

I also would guess that domestic Chinese buyers are by far the largest market for speedcubes. So, in my opinion losing a few US distributors, and even all of their US consumers probably won't be fatal to their business.

That's assuming that Rubik's wins, which is by no means guaranteed.

 

[Competition Cuber]

Did anyone else notice the WCA website changed "Rubik's Cube" to "3x3x3 Cube"?

 

[Duncan Bannon]

When is this all going down?

 

[cuber314159]

Did anyone else notice the WCA website changed "Rubik's Cube" to "3x3x3 Cube"?

Finally they did it!

 

[Underwatercuber]

Did anyone else notice the WCA website changed "Rubik's Cube" to "3x3x3 Cube"?

Yep, they also changed “Rubik’s clock” to “Clock”. Not sure how this relates to this thread though other than both involve Rubik’s.

 

[TipsterTrickster]

Did anyone else notice the WCA website changed "Rubik's Cube" to "3x3x3 Cube"?

Yea, It was kind of annoying me.

 

[Reed Merrill]

Did anyone else notice the WCA website changed "Rubik's Cube" to "3x3x3 Cube"?

Hopefully this helps the name Rubik's becomes less and less associated with speedcubing as a whole. If it does then Rubik's argument in court could definitely be weakened.

 

[Isaac Lai]

Did anyone else notice the WCA website changed "Rubik's Cube" to "3x3x3 Cube"?

Rubik's is a registered trademark, needed to be removed from a lot of places on the website before WCA becomes a non-profit. (from James Molloy)

 

[CornerCutter]

Did anyone else notice the WCA website changed "Rubik's Cube" to "3x3x3 Cube"?

We were was talking about that in episode 20 of the Podcast! Now they did it!

 

[1001010101001]

"A photograph of Plaintiff’s RUBIK’S CUBE puzzle Mark is set forth below:
(picture of a sucky cube)
A photograph of a stock twist puzzle cube sold by Defendant TheCubicle to consumers is set forth below
(Picture of a Guanlong)"
LOL

'As a result of Defendant’s use of a spurious version of Plaintiff’s federally registered RUBIK’S Design Mark, consumers who expect to receive Plaintiff’s RUBIK’S CUBE puzzle, for which Plaintiff has developed a national and international reputation, will be disappointed when using Defendant’s imitation twist puzzle cube. This will cause irreparable harm to Plaintiff’s reputation and the goodwill which is symbolized by the RUBIK’S Design Mark'


"Mommy, I am so disappointed that my cube can turn fast and corner cut! I wanted a rubik's brand that can barely turn, can't corner cut, and can't be tensioned!"

 

[xyzzy]

"A photograph of Plaintiff’s RUBIK’S CUBE puzzle Mark is set forth below:
(picture of a sucky cube)
A photograph of a stock twist puzzle cube sold by Defendant TheCubicle to consumers is set forth below
(Picture of a Guanlong)"
LOL

'As a result of Defendant’s use of a spurious version of Plaintiff’s federally registered RUBIK’S Design Mark, consumers who expect to receive Plaintiff’s RUBIK’S CUBE puzzle, for which Plaintiff has developed a national and international reputation, will be disappointed when using Defendant’s imitation twist puzzle cube. This will cause irreparable harm to Plaintiff’s reputation and the goodwill which is symbolized by the RUBIK’S Design Mark'


"Mommy, I am so disappointed that my cube can turn fast and corner cut! I wanted a rubik's brand that can barely turn, can't corner cut, and can't be tensioned!"

Thanks for your extremely original insight that totally hasn't been mentioned right in the very first page.

(e: why are you guys liking the post where I'm being a dick; what's wrong with you people? I'm just fed up at how kids keep posting in this thread (and the other drama threads) with almost nothing new to say.)