BLUE vs. JZ

[cominginsecond]

Anyone know the story about this? These mics from a company called JZ look exactly like the BLUE mics, and they claim they are the original designers of the BLUE mics and are no longer under contract to them.

Are they Behringer-esque ripoff artists, or is there something to their claim?

[mshilarious]

This seems to get back to the Violet controversy--according to them, they are the manufacturer of BLUE mics and cancelled their contract in 10/04. It appears that BLUE sued them, probably for trade dress infringement, and they are being branded JZ to avoid that problem in certain countries? Just a guess, but there is a link from the Violet site to JZ.

[cominginsecond]

Yeah, I know there's a relationship between violet and JZ.

Does anyone know whether there's any validity to their claim that they are the original designer of these mics?

[Mr Funk]

Well, that is what they have told me. I have no proof, but I think it would be very foolish (on many levels) to make this claim if it were untrue.

It looks like the Violet badged mics are a different range from the JZ labled ones, but I THINK Mr JZ designs them both? They will share parts and characteristics I'm sure?

[Blue Visitor]

We at Blue Microphones would like to make a statement regarding the ongoing speculation over the original design of Blue’s product line and Blue’s current business dealings. We have not commented on these subjects until now simply because our legal advisors have specifically recommended that we not participate in the rumor mill. However, we now believe that the amount of time and misguided speculation that has been invested on these subjects by forum visitors requires a response.

This statement is intended to set the record straight and will be the one and only comment offered by Blue Microphones. Skipper Wise, Martins Saulespurens, and all of the dedicated and hard-working people at Blue sincerely appreciate those who have supported us throughout the years and those who will continue to support Blue Microphones in the future.

First, the design issue:

At the onset of Blue’s incorporation, we hired a Latvian medical manufacturer called Scruples to manufacture certain metals parts and perform the final assembly of certain microphones. Scruples, which is owned in part by Juris Zarins, signed a non-compete agreement with Blue and used their manufacturing expertise to construct our product.

As the Blue line caught on, our relationship with Mr. Zarins became strained as he fought for a bigger piece of the pie. Mr. Zarins began attempting to leverage our manufacturing relationship with Scruples to assert claims to our products. Mr. Zarins attempted to circumvent Blue by creating a company called ParaBlue that would sell Blue products directly to customers. In conjunction with these activities, Scruples became less and less interested in cooperating with Blue’s efforts to manage production flow and quality control. Since Scruples would not continue to meet our needs, we found new manufacturers – right here in America – who could.

After Blue terminated all business relations with Scruples in October of 2004, Scruples violated our non-compete agreement by supplying microphones to a new company of Mr. Zarins,’ Violet Designs, whose trademark infringes on Blue's trademark. Mr. Zarins began creating unauthorized duplications of our products under the name JZ Equipment, which was in clear violation of both our intellectual property rights and the non-compete agreement. Mr. Zarins has also made a deceptive attempt to register Blue’s microphone designs with the European Union.

So, did Scruples make choices in what techniques and technologies should be used to manufacture Blue’s products? Of course, that’s what they were hired and paid to do. Did Scruples or Mr. Zarins somehow establish a vision and actually design the Blue product line? Absolutely not, which is why we’ve already begun legal action in the European Union, Latvia, and soon in the U.S.

Some other matters of interest:

As stated above, Blue has moved the manufacturing operations for most of its core product line to the United States – specifically Southern California, where we are headquartered – and whatever is not made here is made in Latvia. None of our microphones are made in China. We do, however, source some of our non-critical parts, such as shock-mounts and cables, from Chinese manufacturers. This enables us to cost-effectively increase the value of our product line by including free shock-mounts with each of our mics.

Make no mistake, it was a huge challenge to move manufacturing to facilities that would allow us to maintain the same quality craftsmanship recordists have come to expect from Blue over the last decade. After an intense search and a couple false starts, we settled on hiring a milling company from the U.S. military contracting world, a finishing company from the aerospace industry, and an assembly house skilled in hi-fidelity audio...all located close to home in California, all highly capable of meeting our ultra-high
standards.

Keep in mind that all our ball-shaped microphones are still made in Latvia. Our circuit boards are also still made in Latvia. Our capsule assembly and tuning is still done in Latvia, and our Bottle mic is still made entirely in Latvia. All these aspects of Blue production, as well as most of our research and development, are still managed by Martins Saulespurens in Latvia. Most importantly, all our products are still Blue's unique designs.

Finally, Juris Zarins and Scruples had nothing to do with Blue’s restoration service. Our restoration service particularly inhibited the production output of our Bottle microphone; we therefore discontinued the service in order to fully concentrate on the Bottle and other Blue products. We can only guess that JZ Equipment says they offer restoration services because that’s what Blue had done.

We hope this information has proven helpful, and would like to thank you all very much for your interest in what the future holds for Blue Microphones. For our part, we are very proud to have served this industry for ten years now, and can’t wait to bring even better solutions to the recording industry for another ten years – and beyond!

[Rstiltskin]

who/whom are you?

we want to believe, but need a contact number, author of this document, and relationship to blue.

ps...thanks for employing Americans.

[pdlstl]

I received the same email today.

Website

Website gives phone number at the bottom.

Was signed:

Thanks,
Ari Soudak

[ewegogetemtiger]

I have a good solution to the BLUE -- Violet controversy:

Gefell

[BRIEFCASEMANX]

I just paid 100 dollars for 2 "non-critical" kiwi cables that were made in china???

Why are they so damn expensive if they are made with the cheapest labor? ugh!

[Greenberg]

..no coments..

[Mo-Kay]

ps...thanks for employing Americans.

please...

"buy american!"

stfu indoctrinated fool.

[cominginsecond]

Originally Posted by Mo-Kay

please...

"buy american!"

stfu indoctrinated fool.

What's so wrong with a business founded in the US making a point of employing Americans?

Edit: took out dumb mistake.

[PhilGood]

Nothing! Some people just have to cut others down to feel superior. Its the only way they can.

[jonnyc]

Originally Posted by Mo-Kay

please...

"buy american!"

stfu indoctrinated fool.

What a fuckin asshole, guess you don't have any pride in your country. If you're happy with made in china good for you but I like the fact more jobs are created for people in my country.

[Mo-Kay]

It's not about pride...it's about the whining "Buy American" bullshit since a lot of Americans seem to think the whole world revolves around The Stars 'n' Stripes, only CARE about the US and are on some flag-waving-we-are-number-one-bullshit...



Plus hate China for being an up-and-coming economical threat *non-gear-related remark btw*

I have nothing against America of Americans, just sheep.

oh and thanks for the rep.

[Mo-Kay]

OK OK, so I'm sorry if I hurt anyones feelings, and I might have misunderstood some stuff, but whenever I read something like that...

I kinda picture pickup-driving Bush voters.

My apologies if I came across a bit too harsh.. I know everybody wants the best for their country.

[cominginsecond]

Originally Posted by Mo-Kay

It's not about pride...it's about the whining "Buy American" bullshit since a lot of Americans seem to think the whole world revolves around The Stars 'n' Stripes, only CARE about the US and are on some flag-waving-we-are-number-one-bullshit...

Well that's just a mistaken impression on your part. The desire to buy American simply centers around contributing back to the country that has done so much for you. If you supported a buy Dutch campaign, no one would hold it against you.

[fraserhutch]

Originally Posted by cominginsecond

Well that's just a mistaken impression on your part. The desire to buy American simply centers around contributing back to the country that has done so much for you. If you supported a buy Dutch campaign, no one would hold it against you.

Actually, I do - the dutch are just a bunch of sheep - stoned sheep, but sheep

[heroics321]

Originally Posted by cominginsecond

Well that's just a mistaken impression on your part. The desire to buy American simply centers around contributing back to the country that has done so much for you. If you supported a buy Dutch campaign, no one would hold it against you.

not to mention our economy is still somewhat in the shitter. audio companies are some of the last ones to be manufacturing in the u.s. most of the auto makers, that those pickup driving folk love so much, have moved a great deal of production to mexico and overseas. in the light of this, i don't think anyone is doing anything wrong to the global economy by buying from the few american manufacturers there are left.

[Mo-Kay]

well, fraserhutch... the Dutch mentality revolves very much around the freedom to be an individual...

Well that's just a mistaken impression on your part. The desire to buy American simply centers around contributing back to the country that has done so much for you.

ok, so I see what you mean..but WHAT are all these "great things" that "America" has done for the American people, that a lot of Americans seem to bring up all the time?

[cominginsecond]

Originally Posted by Mo-Kay

ok, so I see what you mean..but WHAT are all these "great things" that "America" has done for the American people, that a lot of Americans seem to bring up all the time?

America has educated me, kept me in a job, protected my human rights, etc., etc. Same as the Netherlands have done for you, I presume. America isn't perfect, but it's sustained me and my family. For that I'm grateful and willing to give back.

You don't think that people can make it without the society they're born into, do you?

[CCS]

Originally Posted by Blue Visitor

As stated above, Blue has moved the manufacturing operations for most of its core product line to the United States – specifically Southern California, where we are headquartered – and whatever is not made here is made in Latvia. None of our microphones are made in China. We do, however, source some of our non-critical parts, such as shock-mounts and cables, from Chinese manufacturers. This enables us to cost-effectively increase the value of our product line by including free shock-mounts with each of our mics.

I just might give your product a try, based on the US move.

Regards.

[Mo-Kay]

and I think that's a good thing. A man (and a woman too, for that matter) has to keep his shit together, right...and it's good if your country helps you.

What just bugs me is people getting all patriotic and are on some freedom-founding-fathers-greatest-country-in-the-world shit (and I won't even begin the all-too-easy "stolen land" story), when racism, poverty, a bad social security system, a right wing system with a **** for president and last but not least WAR wherever something can be GAINED is a big part of what makes America, America.


Maybe my scoop is just too big, but American patriotism to me seems so hypocritical a lot of the time.


Like I said, I don't hate America...and a lot of the stuff I love is actually American, hell I even considered moving to America for a few years...I just hate this kinda stuff.


Nothing personal.

[cominginsecond]

Originally Posted by Mo-Kay

when racism, poverty, a bad social security system, a right wing system with a **** for president and last but not least WAR wherever something can be GAINED is a big part of what makes America, America.

Well, I think this is a pretty slanted view. Sure there's racism in the US, but there's no mainstream "Nationalist" parties in the US, like there are in Europe. I don't think you guys are in much of a position to criticize us in that regard. As far as poverty goes, we have problems here, but we do have fairly low unemployment compared to many parts of Europe. And why do you think our social security system is bad?

As far as the war thing goes, I couldn't agree with you more.

I understand you not liking it when Americans say they live in the best country in the world. I have never said that mainly because I believe it's kind of arrogant. However, I think your views about America are not very balanced.

Originally Posted by Mo-Kay

Maybe my scoop is just too big, but American patriotism to me seems so hypocritical a lot of the time.

Sometimes I think people's love for their mother is hypocritical. It doesn't mean it's invalid or ingenuine. Why would you not love the country that has sustained you and protected you, whatever its flaws? I think that patriotism goes too far, however, when it's used to put other countries down, and that happens far too often in America.

[mandocaster]

19,000 Americans were killed in Belgium in December of 1944.


America certainly was there for "gain" then.

A pity that gratitude was not among the items gained