Freaqbox – the company that introduced the three retro-cool Murmux analog synthesizers at the 2014 NAMM Show – contacted us to let us know that they’ve announced a name change:
Last week we had a trademark issue with a major company concerning our brand. They have an effect pedal under a close name. We clearly weren’t aiming into copying them or causing people confusion, so we decided that it would be best to change our name in this early stage of our company.
Our new name is now Dreadbox and we did our best to keep our business ID the same so that people won’t be confused. We have informed everybody, including forums, media and just normal people that have contact us even once about this and we have redirected anyone that tries to enter our old website to our new one.
Other than the company name change, the three new synths are the same:
- The Murmux Initiate starter synth
- The Murmux Semi Modular
- The Murmux Pedal Synth
See the Dreadbox site for details.
“Major company” read Moog.
Translation: “We heard analog synths were real popular right now and wanted in before the market collapses so we couldn’t be bothered to register our company name first.”
Trademarks are per category – so when they start making synths they have to deal with new conflicts.
The Moog Freqbox trademark broadly covers two categories: effects and synthesis.
IC 009. US 021 023 026 036 038. G & S: Sound frequency filters for controlling audio parameters by raising or lowering the gain of specific audio frequencies using a multiple resonant filter array and animating those frequencies using a built-in pattern generator. FIRST USE: 20070508. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20070522
IC 015. US 002 021 036. G & S: Music synthesizers for producing a filter effect which can be used with a variety of musical instruments to alter the sound of the instrument by raising or lowering the gain of specific audio frequencies using a multiple resonant filter array and animating those frequencies using a built-in pattern generator. FIRST USE: 20070508. FIRST USE IN COMMERCE: 20070522
Scott Wozniak: the company was registered in the EU, and it is possible to register a company name that potentially infringes on a trademark since the test of uniqueness does not extend to brand and product names.
You are correct. Sorry for my snap judgment. Somebody pissed in my Corn Flakes this morning.
Why didn`t they just change the name to Freakbox? Dreadbox doesn’t sound as fun.
Because Freakbox and Freqbox are pronounced exactly the same. A court would almost certainly rule that the name infringed on Moog’s trademark.
The real question is : Does Moog “own” the word Freq and Freak, much like King was given the ownership of the word “candy” for games and merchandising?
The real question is – does a startup that accidentally infringes the established trademark of a deep-pocketed company want to go to court, or do they want to learn from their mistake and more on?
Dreadbox made the only smart call.
I agree changing the name was the best thing to do, but I just would have chosen something better than the dreadful synth.
Maybe you should mail them and explain that noone!
Who’s to says I didn’t fyou
Maybe you should mail them and explain that !
Yes,mail them!
Wo slow down boy you are overexcited, you don`t need to reply three times to a single comment.
Admin: Personal attack deleted. Please keep your comments on topic and constructive.
“first,I’m not a boy.”
Oh we will surely take you seriously from now on boy.
“they did this on purpose”
Just like you responded three times to my comment on purpose, you too seems to be looking for some kind of publicity, boy.
Greekbox
freak,geak,geek…
Whatever.
Here you go:
‘1/4JackInTheBox’
problem solved! oh wait…
They could call these scuzzbucket and I’d still be interested – they look cool and sound interesting in the demo videos!
Who carws what they’re called, they’re stunning.
Carws=cares…
stupid S4…
Rugbox?
Admin: Personal attack deleted. Please keep your comments on topic and constructive.
Looks like it really got to you boy.
what do you mean?
just told how it works?
eeeh no, you were all emotional and pissy about my comment.
Its even more funny how you are now trying to hide it, but there’s a reason why your comment was deleted for personnal attack, boy.
Yeah,I can’t sleep thanks to your comment.
My life is useless now.
Mr nobody.
It’s a pity, because Freaqbox was a nice, fun name. It’s a shame, because many people would probably never have though about Moog’s brand (I, at least, did not). And it is a bit embarrassing, because they could have done a bit of homework before going public. Every band would do some basic research about their band name, if they had the slightest bit of dilligence. And yes, Dreadbox is indeed somewhat awkward.
But those synths are still great!