Gibson Guitar Corp., a manufacturer of musical instruments and significant shareholder in Onkyo Corp. and majority owner of Onkyo USA, has entered into a “Criminal Enforcement Agreement” with the U.S. Department of Justice settling matters and circumstances surrounding government allegations of their illegal purchase and importation of woods and materials protected by environmental regulations and laws. As part of their settlement, Gibson admits the government’s allegations are true, agrees to pay a penalty of $300,000, agrees to an additional “community service” payment of $50,000 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, implements a strict compliance program (approved by DOJ enforcers) to prevent future violations, and relinquishes claim to more than $260,000 worth of government-seized illegally imported materials. [Read more…] about Gibson Guitar Admits It Broke the Law; Settles with DOJ to Avoid Criminal Prosecution
Law
Third Time’s the Charm? Colorado vNet – Now 3vNet – Certainly Hopes So
BREAKING NEWS
Colorado vNet, the high-tech control and home automation company that has had an up-and-down roller-coaster existence – dying twice, only to be reborn twice – and eventually given-up on and sold off…hopes that the old adage, “third time’s the charm” is true. CEO Mike Anderson announced today that he is re-launching the company with a new brand – now 3vNet – and a new attitude, telling us that this is not a makeover, but in fact a whole new company with new facilities, new engineering, and a new higher level of tech support the likes of which dealers haven’t seen in years.
See what the all-new 3vNet has in store to excite dealers & drive market share…
[Read more…] about Third Time’s the Charm? Colorado vNet – Now 3vNet – Certainly Hopes So
Sol Republic Wins Round 1 of Heavyweight Boxing Match with Signeo
Earlier this year, we reported on a trademark infringement suit filed by Signeo USA, LLC, vs. Sol Republic. Signeo is the corporate name for a company better known in the trade as the Soul by Ludacris brand of headphones. Sol Republic denied Signeo’s allegations and filed a counter-suit suggesting, amongst other things, that Signeo’s trademark application was improper. Signeo also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction, seeking a court order to stop the sales of Sol Republic products.
There are lots of twists – and the court has rendered its verdict on the injunction… [Read more…] about Sol Republic Wins Round 1 of Heavyweight Boxing Match with Signeo
Russound Pulls the Plug on Colorado vNet
Colorado Town Council Plans Lawsuit
<December 29, 2010> In a move that will not surprise many in the industry, Russound has decided to close Colorado vNet fourteen months after purchasing it in October 2009. The move appears to be related to a breakdown in negotiations with the town of Loveland, Colorado which had provided the company’s previous owners with $900,000 in incentives to move operations there…and had renegotiated a $500,000 deal with new owner Russound. [Read more…] about Russound Pulls the Plug on Colorado vNet