Fender loses trademark battle

[marzzz]

But given the Gibson/PRS precedent, no surprise:

Fender loses trademark battle (http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2009/04/12/20090412biz-sr-fender0413.html)

[Pietro]

Well, when you wait half a century to trademark something... what do you expect? :rolleyes:

[Suriel Zayas]

tom, i know you gave us the great news a couple of weeks, but how about a limited run with the old headstock? ;)

[Devnor]

tom, i know you gave us the great news a couple of weeks, but how about a limited run with the old headstock? ;)

Yeah, with matching paint on maple necks...oh yeah figured wood too!

:D

[Pietro]

I think the headstock is trademarked.

Anyhow, I like the new headstock way better, myself...

[tom]

what about a 14 string baritone with the old headstock?

[John C]

But given the Gibson/PRS precedent, no surprise:

Fender loses trademark battle (http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2009/04/12/20090412biz-sr-fender0413.html)

Actually apples/oranges compared to the Gibson/PRS ruling - Tom, John Suhr, and everyone else were able to stop Fender from gaining the trademark on the body shapes (actually Fender submitted a very generic 2-D drawing as part of the their trademark application). This is much more of a landmark ruling than Gibson vs. PRS. Of course Fender does still hold their trademark on their headstock shape, logo, etc. which has long been held to be the "signature" of the builder.

No one stopped Gibson from getting a trademark on the Les Paul as no one constested it back in the 1980s when the application was granted. The PRS ruling was actually that the PRS Singlecut was different enough from the trademarked Les Paul shape and trade dress (trade dress includes things like the knob placement, specific body shapes, logos, inlays, etc.) that it didn't infringe on Gibson's trademark and the original ruling in favor of Gibson was overturned.

[bud]

what about a 14 string baritone with the old headstock?

Now if you'd just added a synth pickup, you'd really have something

[ConnemaraGuitar]

...and f holes!

[markus]

... and a Floyd Rose of course!!! :D :D

[tom]

you had me till you mentioned f holes. now the whole thing's off.

[markus]

Damn!!!! :mad:
:p

[Pietro]

Okay,

no f-holes...

how about a baritone Crowdster! That would be totally bizarre...

With a floyd of course...

[marzzz]

Ah, so you guys knew about this previously? It's news here because their offices are located in Scottsdale (and our esteemed local newspaper is of course right on top of things, as usual), in fact I have driven past that unassuming edifice many times....:p