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Fender bid gets knocked down!

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Sadowsky

Sadowsky

Supporting Member
Commercial User
Nov 1, 2000
2,283
7,696
New York City
www.sadowsky.com
Disclosures
Owner: Sadowsky Guitars Ltd.
#1
I am very pleased to announce that after 6 years of litigation, we (about 17 makers) have prevailed in our attempt to prevent Fender from trademarking their body shapes. The Appeals court of the USPTO threw out every argument Fender made and ruled in our favor that the Strat, Tele and P body shapes are generic. Any further attempt by Fender to trademark other body shapes would fail, based on this ruling.

You can read the entire decision here:
http://ttabvue.uspto.gov/ttabvue/v?pno=91161403&pty=OPP&eno=246

This is literally a David slaying Goliath decision and a great day for all instrument makers. :hyper::hyper::hyper::hyper::hyper::hyper:

Roger
 
#7
Wow - I didn't even know this was an issue. I wonder where Fender would have drawn the line? Hmmm. Glad that didn't pass. By the way - I'm loving my new NYC which, strangely enough, feels so different from my Fender Jazz...

Congratulations, Roger!
 
#11
mongo2 said:
Frankly, I was rooting for Fender in this one.
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+1

The less copied designs = more varied and creative designs.

I'm sorry to say when i see a pbass or a strat, whether it is made by Sadowsky/ESP or anyone else I think Fender.

I can't see how (i'll say recreating rather than copying) recreating fender models makes good marketing sense to anyone else rather than Fender.
 
#13
boabski2k said:
+1

The less copied designs = more varied and creative designs.

I'm sorry to say when i see a pbass or a strat, whether it is made by Sadowsky/ESP or anyone else I think Fender.

I can't see how (i'll say recreating rather than copying) recreating fender models makes good marketing sense to anyone else rather than Fender.
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Because people like what is familiar.
 
#14
Eublet said:
Bull butter! These designs are age-old now, and trying to prevent others from using them in various forms is ridiculous.
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I agree, and I'm sure Fender isn't hurting too bad even thought theres so many other brands that offer a similiar styled bass.

Just saying it sucks to lose lol.
 
#17
Does anyone own trademarks on acoustic guitar body shapes?

This will not put a damper on builders being creative.

I think the best analogy to this is if Mercedes or Ford decided to now attempt to trademark a 4 wheeled automobile.

Roger
 
#18
All I can say is thank you Leo Fender. The man was certainly a genius and influenced the direction of popular music and instrument design worldwide. I wonder where Talkbass would be if Leo hadn't invented his classic designs. It really is unfortunate that a lot of instrument makers take credit for Leo's work. Yes they may have made improvements but Leo was the catalyst. I know I would not have been able to make the music I do if it wasn't for Fender's designs.:)
 
#19
uaudio said:
Without getting into the ruling, does this mean than ANY body shape is generic? Could one, for example, copy a Sadowsky or Lakland style now?
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Not ANY body shape is generic. If Lakland or Sadowsky were to create a new bass guitar with a unique body shape, they could trademark that body shape. However if they were to attempt to trademark a current design (that they argued is based on Fender's generic design), they'd likely be defeated by their own prior victory.
 
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