Fake Fender Outrage by ShitFluencers/CuckFluencers......

[JonPearson1994]

In general I agree with this - it's certainly been the pattern for a long time. But I did buy an ultra lux vintage strat recently. While I'm kind of luke warm on the slightly reliced finish (basically just cracks in the nitro) I don't feel like it needs anything. The frets are big and stainless and level. It plays nice. The neck is comfy with rolled edges. I added 2 trem springs and decked the trem but that's personal preference. The pickups are good. The bridge and tuners are good.

I A/Bed with with two Suhrs they had and it beat both in tone and playability was about a wash. It was cheaper than a Suhr and US made.

The Ultra Luxes seem to be getting positive reviews by a lot of folks, YouTuber and otherwise. It's the only Strat I've been tempted by in a while.

 

[nightlight]

The problem with your theory is there is legal precedent of them not defending it for those exact 70 years.

Someone mentioned them acquiring some patents. Could be the reason they're fighting it now.

 

[Rackman]

Someone mentioned them acquiring some patents. Could be the reason they're fighting it now.

The longest patents in the US have a duration of 20 years. So any feature that was present on a guitar in 2006 or earlier (whether patented or not, and regardless of who made the guitar) cannot possibly be covered by an active US patent.

I think in practice that covers essentially any guitar feature anyone gives a shit about.

 

[rsm]

One thing that has already happened due to the German court ruling in Fender's favor, is that other companies can no longer sell guitars with unlicensed strat-style bodies in the EU.

Essentially taking the EU out of the guitar market for these guitars and brands.

It's unclear what guitars (brands/models) can no longer be sold in the EU, but continued sales can trigger some significant financial damage, to not just the makers of these guitars, but distributors and retailers in the EU.

 

[rsm]

The longest patents in the US have a duration of 20 years. So any feature that was present on a guitar in 2006 or earlier (whether patented or not, and regardless of who made the guitar) cannot possibly be covered by an active US patent.

I think in practice that covers essentially any guitar feature anyone gives a shit about.

The German ruling is on copyright (which don't expire) not patents (which expire).

Fender won in the EU on the copyright of the Strat-style body shape.

 

[rsm]

can guitar companies other than Fender sell guitars that look like Fender Strat bodies in the EU?

 

[Rackman]

The German ruling is on copyright (which don't expire) not patents (which expire).

Fender won in the EU on the copyright of the Strat-style body shape.

I'm well aware of what happened. nightlight speculated that this has something to do with patents int he post I quoted, which is highly unlikely as very little related to guitars should be under active patent.

It's also worth noting that we probably shouldn't buy into Feder's PR that they "won" since while technically true it was a default judgement that they can't cite in other cases. If they decide to go after someone else who does show up for court, they're in the same position they were before the ruling. Fender is trying to create the illusion that there is a precedent in the EU when there is not.

 

[rsm]

I'm well aware of what happened. nightlight speculated that this has something to do with patents int he post I quoted, which is highly unlikely as very little related to guitars should be under active patent.

It's also worth noting that we probably shouldn't buy into Feder's PR that they "won" since while technically true it was a default judgement that they can't cite in other cases. If they decide to go after someone else who does show up for court, they're in the same position they were before the ruling. Fender is trying to create the illusion that there is a precedent in the EU when there is not.

it's enforceable in the EU which isn't a small market. I'm sure it will be challenged in the EU, but until then some guitar makers, distributors and retailers may want to reconsider their inventory.

 

[The~Kid]

The Ultra Luxes seem to be getting positive reviews by a lot of folks, YouTuber and otherwise. It's the only Strat I've been tempted by in a while.

Yeah Ultra Luxes are amazing especially the HSS versions or the ones with Floyds.

 

[The~Kid]

I'm well aware of what happened. nightlight speculated that this has something to do with patents int he post I quoted, which is highly unlikely as very little related to guitars should be under active patent.

It's also worth noting that we probably shouldn't buy into Feder's PR that they "won" since while technically true it was a default judgement that they can't cite in other cases. If they decide to go after someone else who does show up for court, they're in the same position they were before the ruling. Fender is trying to create the illusion that there is a precedent in the EU when there is not.

Well pretty much this in the end sums it up, and whos going to call Fenders "bluff" then if it is the case, but at the same Time some of the things they are asking for after the fact are pretty common sense things and reasonable like.....


Not making Pirated Chinese BS and fake Clones or lets be honest just straight up copying their design and calling it your own with a different headstock without paying licensing or nothing for free


Maybe it wont go all their way of course but in general these things seem to have a way of figuring themselves out where it wont go hard any which way but Will most likely end up down the middle.

 

[Speeddemon]

it's enforceable in the EU which isn't a small market. I'm sure it will be challenged in the EU, but until then some guitar makers, distributors and retailers may want to reconsider their inventory.

I hear ya, but interestingly enough, Thomann -one of Europe's biggest retailers- 'home brand' Harley Benton still has plenty ST types available on their website.

I never really considered them, since they're low budget and aimed at beginners, but they do have a few types available with certain combinations of features and colors (with a nice toasted maple neck) that would never be available at Fender.

And at the end of the day people also need to make a clear distinction between counterfeits and 'inspired by/S type' guitars. A counterfeit is made with the intention of making the buyer believe they're getting an actual Fender, by replicating the logo on the headstock, and copying as much details as possible.
No one who buys a Harley Benton (or a Suhr or Tom Anderson for that matter) is being 'duped' this way.
Hopefully already common knowledge, but since the c word is being thrown around so casually, I wanted to point that out.