Editing Behringer (section)

=== Legal developments ===

==== FCC dispute ====

In February 2006, the US [[Federal Communications Commission]] (FCC) fined Behringer $1M.<ref name=gearwireFCC>Gearwire.com. 14 June 2007. [http://www.gearwire.com/behringer-fcc.html "Behringer Fined One Million Dollars By FCC."] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071017224949/http://www.gearwire.com/behringer-fcc.html |date=17 October 2007 }} Retrieved on 4 October 2009.</ref> The FFC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability claiming that 50 products had not been tested for conducted and radiated emissions limits as required by US law,<ref>[http://radiomagonline.com/currents/radio_currents_022006/ Radio Currents Online, 20–26 February 2006] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090216220316/http://radiomagonline.com/currents/radio_currents_022006/ |date=16 February 2009 }}</ref> and noted that it continued to sell the products for a year after being notified.<ref name=gearwireFCC/> Behringer's position was that, since the units had passed stringent European CE standards, they would also comply with FCC verification requirements.<ref name=gearwireFCC/> According to Behringer, it had overlooked the differences in testing standards and procedures under FCC and European requirements. It has since implemented a complete [[Underwriters Laboratory|UL]] certified safety and EMC testing laboratory under the UL Certified Witness Program, including in-house audits and global regulatory review systems.<ref name="musnews">{{cite web | url = http://www.musiciansnews.com/be/behringer/behringer_resolved_fcc_compliance_issues_before_recent_rulin.shtml | title = Behringer Resolved FCC Compliance Issues Before Recent Ruling | publisher = Musiciansnews.com | access-date = 29 December 2009 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130129122242/http://www.musiciansnews.com/be/behringer/behringer_resolved_fcc_compliance_issues_before_recent_rulin.shtml | archive-date = 29 January 2013}}</ref>

==== Legal cases ====

In June 1997, the [[Mackie (company)|Mackie]] company (now LOUD Technologies) accused Behringer of trademark and [[trade dress]] infringement, and brought suit seeking $327M in damages.<ref name=":0">[http://sec.edgar-online.com/1998/05/14/17/0001047469-98-020293/Section8.asp Loud Technologies Inc. LTec Quarterly Report (10-Q) Item 1. Legal Proceedings] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080125141419/http://sec.edgar-online.com/1998/05/14/17/0001047469-98-020293/Section8.asp |date=25 January 2008 }}</ref><ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1997_June_18/ai_19518852 Mackie Designs Inc. Files Lawsuit to Stop "Knockoff" Products... | Business Wire | Find Articles at Bnet.com]</ref> The claims were later rejected by the court.  In their suit, Mackie said that Behringer had had a history of copying products by other manufacturers and selling them as their own.<ref name=Billboard1997>Verna, Paul. ''Billboard'', 5 July 1997. [https://books.google.com/books?id=iQ4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA34 "Mackie Sues Over Knockoffs: Behringer, Sam Ash Are Defendants."] Retrieved 27 October 2009.</ref> The Mackie suit detailed an instance, in which Behringer was sued by [[Aphex Systems]] for copying the Aural Exciter Type F.  In that case Aphex Systems won [[Deutsche Mark|DM]]690,000.<ref name=Billboard1997/> The Mackie suit also mentioned similar cases filed by BBE, [[dbx, Inc.|dbx]] and Drawmer.<ref name=Billboard1997/> On 30 November 1999, the U.S. District Court in Seattle, Washington, dismissed Mackie claims that Behringer had infringed on Mackie copyrights with its MX 8000 mixer, noting that circuit [[circuit diagram|schematics]] are not covered by copyright laws.<ref>{{Cite web | url=http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5264/is_199902/ai_n20420920 |title=Mackie/Behringer lawsuit. {{!}} ''&#91;&#91;The Music Trades&#93;&#93;'' {{!}} Find Articles at Bnet.com |access-date=25 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071216010944/http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5264/is_199902/ai_n20420920 |archive-date=16 December 2007 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>''[[The Music Trades]]'', February 1999. [http://www.entrepreneur.com/tradejournals/article/61874159.html Archived at ''Entrepreneur.com'' as "Mackie/Behringer Lawsuit."]{{dead link|date=December 2011}} Retrieved on 8 September 2009.</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Ch/1999/252.html |title=Mackie Designs Inc v. Behringer Specialised studio equipment (UK) Ltd, Ulrich Bernhard Behringer & Behringer Spezielle Studiotechnik GmbH [1999] EWHC Ch 252 (22nd February, 1999) |publisher=Bailii.org |date=23 April 1999 |access-date=2011-12-30}}</ref>

In 2005, [[Roland Corporation]] sued to enforce Roland's trade dress, trademark, and other intellectual property rights with regard to Behringer's recently released guitar pedals.  The companies came to a confidential settlement in 2006 after Behringer changed their designs.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://mixonline.com/news/headline/behringer-roland-lawsuit-041006/ | title = Behringer and Roland Settle Lawsuit | date = 10 April 2006 | access-date = 29 December 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090719100435/http://mixonline.com/news/headline/behringer-roland-lawsuit-041006/ | archive-date = 19 July 2009 | url-status = dead}}</ref>

In 2009, [[Peavey Electronics|Peavey Electronics Corporation]] filed two lawsuits against various companies under the Behringer/Music Group umbrella for patent infringement, federal and common law trademark infringement, false designation of origin, trademark dilution and unfair competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sonicstate.com/news/2011/05/02/peavey-files-lawsuits-against-behringer/ |title=Peavey Files Lawsuits Against Behringer, Intellectual property issues cited |publisher=Sonicstate.com |access-date=2011-12-30}}</ref> In 2011 the Music Group filed a countersuit against Peavey for "false advertising, false patent marking and unfair competition."<ref>{{cite web |last=Cooper |first=Gary |url=http://www.mi-pro.co.uk/news/32272/Behringers-MUSIC-group-files-US-suit-against-Peavey |title=Behringer's MUSIC group files US suit against Peavey |work=Musical instrument industry news |publisher=MI Pro |access-date=2011-12-30 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110502165553/http://www.mi-pro.co.uk/news/32272/Behringers-MUSIC-group-files-US-suit-against-Peavey |archive-date=2 May 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2017, Music Group filed a defamation lawsuit against [[Dave Smith Instruments]], a Dave Smith Instruments engineer, and 20 [[Gearspace|Gearslutz]] forum users. The case was dismissed as a [[Strategic lawsuit against public participation|SLAPP]] lawsuit.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cdm.link/2018/06/behringer-have-sued-dave-smith-instruments-forum-posters-for-defamation/|title = Behringer sued Dave Smith Instruments, forum posters, and lost|date = 19 June 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Wilson |first1=Scott |title=Behringer tried to sue Dave Smith Instruments and 20 forum users for libel |url=https://www.factmag.com/2018/06/20/behringer-dave-smith-libel-case/ |website=Fact Magazine |date=20 June 2018 |access-date=11 June 2021}}</ref>

==== Fictional synthesizer advertisement ====

In March 2020, Behringer published a mock video for a synthesizer, the "KIRN CorkSniffer", which appeared to mock the music technology journalist and synthesiser developer Peter Kirn. The video received criticism and accusations of using [[Antisemitism|antisemitic]] imagery. Uli Behringer issued a response on [[Facebook]], saying the video had been intended as "pure satire by our marketing department".<ref>{{Cite web |last=March 2020 |first=MusicRadar03 |date=3 March 2020 |title=Behringer forced to apologise after bullying row |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/behringer-forced-to-apologise-after-bullying-row |access-date=2020-03-07 |website=MusicRadar |language=en}}</ref> The apology was deleted the following day.<ref>{{Cite web |last=March 2020 |first=MusicRadar04 |date=4 March 2020 |title=Behringer deletes 'CorkSniffer' apology as Peter Kirn tells people not to smash up their synths |url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/behringer-deletes-corksniffer-apology-as-peter-kirn-tells-people-not-to-smash-up-their-synths |access-date=2020-03-07 |website=MusicRadar |language=en}}</ref>