FEBRUARY UPDATE> MIKE'S TRAIN HOUSE DCC LAWSUIT

[jnichols]

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

You're correct JNichols. Seems that most of us are aware that it was regarding the speed control in "1 scale m.p.h increments". Yet still, there was an impact on DCC manufacturers and it started with QSI's letter on its website stating it was disabling BEMF. Was BEMF disable because it was part of the 1 mph control increments? I don't know.

Did BLI/QSI cleverly write that letter because managment knew that modelers would become outraged at MTH? Don't know that one either. But we all witnessed what happened. The DCC world was in an uproar. Forums left and right were also discussing and debating it and before you knew it MTH "seemed to have become quite unpopular.

Rightly or wrongly HO, N, and even larger scale modelers were incensed and convinced that Mike Wolf wanted to eliminate DCS's competition, primarily DCC.

I had brought this thread back up to see if anyone had "closure info" since so little was known of the lawsuit's status. This was so that this this topic could be closed appropriately and let slip into forum history.

Antonio,

I really don't know why QSI chose not to enable the speed control in it's products. Remember however, the speed control was active on the Lionel HO scale locomotives that used QSI systems, so one can only guess. My take!?!

I think you are partly right about QSI trying to finger point at MTH in order to turn the modelers against them. I also think it was their plan all along to sell you an "upgrade" after paying good money for the model in order to get speed control (which should have had this in the first place) . If this is true, I will wash my hands of QSI altogether. There are too many other good sound decoder options right now to deal with their smoke and mirrors crap, and you can buy virtually any of the QSI equipped models without sound at this point making aftermarket installations a snap!

Thanks for your post.

Jeff

[jondrd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jnichols

QUOTE: Originally posted by AntonioFP45

I also think it was their plan all along to sell you an "upgrade" after paying good money for the model in order to get speed control (which should have had this in the first place) .

Jeff

This is the part of this fiasco that angers me. The consumer thought he was getting speed control and didn't get it. [8] What is QSI's plan to make this right when the dust settles? If the solution is to charge for what you already paid for; then I think we might be in for another round of litigation. Let's hope this isn't the case.

Jon

[Medina1128]

Well, since this is an open forum, I have only one thing to say: To ALL GREEDY MONEY GRUBBING SLOBS, THERE IS SUCH A THING AS KARMA, AND MTH, YOURS SUCKS. WHAT GOES AROUND, COMES AROUND, ETC....
Personally, I have NO plan to buy anything coming out of MTH... and to quote the Cowardly Lion, "NOT NOBODY.. NOT NO HOW!!"

[AntonioFP45]

Sheesh!

Didn't want to see flames crackling again!

Personally I find it a bit difficult to believe that BLI/QSI was trying to deceive the consumer, especially since, inspite of a few problems, BLI units were an overall BIG HIT with the HO market. BLI was "the new kid on the block". I can't see them shooting themselves in the foot. Don't forget that several DCC vendors received the letter from MTH. "DCC" vendors, who had to get legal advice as to how to proceed forward in advancing the technology. Remember, the letter was "very vague" and broad.......so what did we expect BLI to do?

I'm not a technical expert but the speed control in 1 mile per hour increments? Someone please tell me that other model railroad manufacturers and electronic whiz kids would have never have thought of that! We've got young people today in their 20s building computers from the ground up.

So J, in seeing this it seems that MTH is not the helpless victim here.

Just my thoughts.

[sumpter250]

As you sew, so shall you reap.
The comment I heard about the MTH booth at Trainfest 2005 was " If someone had tossed a frag grenade into the booth, one, or maybe two people would have been injured".
My own observation, the booth was not very heavily visited.

I hear there's a new book on the market....."How to win friends, and influence people, for dummies".
Authored by Union Pacific corporate staff.
Maybe Mike wolf has been reading[;)]

[electrolove]

Can someone please tell me what this really is about? If I understand it right with my crappy english, this is the reason we have to wait for the diesel version of the tsunami? Did the guys that was working to get it on the market sued?

[Big_Boy_4005]

QUOTE: Originally posted by electrolove

Can someone please tell me what this really is about? If I understand it right with my crappy english, this is the reason we have to wait for the diesel version of the tsunami? Did the guys that was working to get it on the market sued?

Electro my friend, it's really a very long story which has been going on for quite some time. If you aren't familiar with Mike's Train House (MTH), and you really have no reason to be familiar with them, you are much better off.

If you really want to know, the issue at hand is about DCC and sound, and MTH's patent and all of the subsequent litigation. In short, it's a mess, which most would agree MTH created. The thing is MTH isn't even active in the HO market. MTH has announced plans to get into the HO market, but I am of the opinion that they will fall flat on their face.

I am also of the opinion that if MTH fails to enter the HO market, the HO manufacturers have a much better chance of getting relief from the patent.

If you want to know more, go back to the beginning of this topic and read. Note that it was started almost two years ago.