Behringer

Infobox Company
name = Behringer

type = Private
genre = Audio equipment
foundation = Germany (1989)
founder = Uli Behringer [http://www.behringer.com/_img/employees/uli-behringer2_150px.jpg]
location_city = Willich
location_country = Germany
location =
locations =
area_served = Worldwide
key_people =
industry = Music
products = Audio equipment
services =
revenue =
operating_income =
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owner =
num_employees =
parent =
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subsid =
slogan = Just Listen.
homepage = [http://www.behringer.com/ www.behringer.com/]
footnotes =
intl =

BEHRINGER International GmbH (Behringer) is a Global audio equipment manufacturer, founded in its present form in 1989.

Products

The company designs and manufactures audio products including public address systems, mixing consoles, amplifiers and audio processing units. The company recently introduced a large number of new products such as effects pedals and digital pianos. The company also has a small line of lighting products including a lighting console, a rack dimmer, and a Die-cast Source Four PAR style lighting fixture.

Legal troubles

FCC lawsuit

In February 2006, the US FCC issued a Notice of Apparent Liability against Behringer, claiming that 50 of the company's products had not been tested for conducted and radiated emissions limits as required by US law. The FCC proposed a fine of US $1m for these violations. [ [http://radiomagonline.com/currents/radio_currents_022006/ Radio Currents Online - Feb 20 - Feb 26, 2006 ] ]

Controversy

Companies that have accused Behringer of design infringement include Mackie [ [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 ] ] [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_1997_June_18/ai_19518852 Mackie Designs Inc. files lawsuit to stop "knockoff" products; Company seeks damages of $327 million | Business Wire | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ] and Roland [ [http://www.musicgearreview.com/article-display/1438.html Behringer Sued for Cloning Renowned Boss Guitar Effects Pedals @ Music Gear Review ] ] [ [http://www.sonicstate.com/news/shownews.cfm?newsid=2054 Sonic State - News Roland Aim To Show Behringer Who's Boss, Lawsuit filed against Behringer for range of Boss-a-like pedals ] ] . The case against Mackie was settled out of court under confidential, undisclosed terms. These allegations are difficult to confirm or disprove because even though some circuitry is patented, most audio circuits are variations on existing building-block circuits (like electronic amplifiers and bandpass filters.) Thus, independently developed circuits may seem similar. There is no clear proof or legal decision proving or disproving the allegations, though Behringer has won at least one court case brought against it for infringement. [ [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_hb5264/is_199902/ai_n20420920 MACKIE/BEHRINGER LAWSUIT. | Music Trades | Find Articles at BNET.com ] ]

ee also

*List of microphone manufacturers

References

External links

* [http://www.behringer.com/ Company website]
* [http://www.wikizic.org/Behringer/ Behringer products museum] - Behringer instruments database, resources, user reviews, pictures
* [http://www.loudtechinc.com/news/1999/11081999.html News of Settlement between Behringer & Mackie]
** [http://www.greenspun.com/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg.tcl?msg_id=0002Tx Another news release and discussion]
*fr icon [http://otherside.pumaxprod.com/behringer/ Behringer's stomp boxes samples bank]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NqUGLUJF7y4 Behringer factory tour pt1]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LKnQl8gbkQ Behringer factory tour pt2]
* [http://hraunfoss.fcc.gov/edocs_public/attachmatch/FCC-06-13A1.doc FCC Notice of Apparent Liability against Behringer, February 2006]