January 3, 2005 – Jack Turner, whose Snow Monsters have
become a familiar sight at many resorts and even on network television, has taken a pre-emptive strike against a California manufacturer of
high-performance audio and visual cables.

Monster Cable already has filed trademark lawsuits against companies using
“monster” in its name including Discovery Channel’s Monster Garage,
Bally’s Monster slot machines, Disney’s Monsters, Inc. and some 250 others.

Turner, assuming he will be soon be sued, and recognizing the potential of huge outlays of cash to defend the name, has formally requested a Colorado District Court judge to rule that Snow Monsters does not infringe on Monster Cable’s trademark.

“The idea that they own the word ‘monster’ is like Ski Magazine claiming
that they own the word ‘Ski’ in all its uses,” Turner told The Industry
Report.

“The problem for me and other small businesses is that Monster Cable uses
that ridiculous premise to practice corporate extortion. With big companies like Disney, the result is a confidential settlement or a marketing partnership.”

Turner is trying to “rally the troops” in the winter sports industry to
help protest this situation by asking people to click
here for more information and to send a protest to the company:

http://echo.bluehornet.com/ct/ct.php?t=829442&c=479692286&m=m&type=1>

“Hey, if I’m weird enough to make films about skiing tigers and
snowboarding beavers, then I’m crazy enough to fight a company like
Monster Cable,” he said. “Real ski industry people are risk takers, not
sissies. I can’t begin to explain how serious this really is.”