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The Fender legal issue
Posted on 5/28/26 at 1:03 pm
Posted on 5/28/26 at 1:03 pm
So, where’s everyone at on this issue? PRS acknowledged they got a Cease & Desist from Fender.
I’m Team Fender.
I’m Team Fender.
9
Posted on 5/28/26 at 1:46 pm to wareaglepete
quote:
I’m Team Fender.
Aint no nether other way to be.
Why would PRS even need to build a Strat copy? and PRS aint by themselves.
Posted on 5/28/26 at 1:53 pm to auggie
They built it to get John Mayer. It is his signature model. I guess maybe because there are birdies on the fretboard maybe that will get PRS off the hook.
PRS was not the only one sent a C&D letter, they are just the first to come out and acknowledge they got one and speak to it.
PRS was not the only one sent a C&D letter, they are just the first to come out and acknowledge they got one and speak to it.
This post was edited on 5/28/26 at 1:55 pm
Posted on 5/28/26 at 2:40 pm to wareaglepete
Strat copies have been being made without complaint for so long now (decades) that it's about like us calling any tissue a Kleenex.
It's well past the point of Fender being able to do anything about it.
They would have to go up against PRS, Yamaha, Suhr, Ibanez, Harley Benton, and any number of manufacturers.
All I can figure is that Fender is hurting for money, and this is going to pretty much do them in.
It's well past the point of Fender being able to do anything about it.
They would have to go up against PRS, Yamaha, Suhr, Ibanez, Harley Benton, and any number of manufacturers.
All I can figure is that Fender is hurting for money, and this is going to pretty much do them in.
Posted on 5/28/26 at 2:42 pm to wareaglepete
If it's an EXACT copy of a Strat then Fender may have a case but if it's just based on the Strat shape, from my understanding Fender lost that trademark ruling in 2009 and it's considered public domain.
Posted on 5/28/26 at 2:43 pm to wareaglepete
I think it's pretty silly but. 
I've also never actually owned a Fender guitar. I have a Jackson but that was from before they were bought by Fender.
I've also never actually owned a Fender guitar. I have a Jackson but that was from before they were bought by Fender.
Posted on 5/28/26 at 3:05 pm to WonderWartHawg
My first thought was why they didn’t do this years ago. But, these owners didn’t own Fender 50 years ago. I don’t know what the play is here because they likely won’t win, but their company was the originator and I’m ok if they want to try to protect that.
Why don’t these other companies innovate? Fender gets criticized constantly for always putting out the same old stuff but when they call out another maker for copying that same old stuff, folks start ranting and clutching pearls. I don’t get it.
I definitely don’t think this is going to do them in. They’ll be fine. The folks bitching the loudest weren’t going to buy a Fender anyways. They were going to buy some offshored Sadowsky or something and endlessly tell you how much better it is than a Fender.
Why don’t these other companies innovate? Fender gets criticized constantly for always putting out the same old stuff but when they call out another maker for copying that same old stuff, folks start ranting and clutching pearls. I don’t get it.
I definitely don’t think this is going to do them in. They’ll be fine. The folks bitching the loudest weren’t going to buy a Fender anyways. They were going to buy some offshored Sadowsky or something and endlessly tell you how much better it is than a Fender.
This post was edited on 5/28/26 at 4:04 pm
Posted on 5/28/26 at 3:55 pm to wareaglepete
I personally hate copies and fakes of anything. I play a Telecaster and I would never buy a knockoff.
Same with a Strat.
So, I support Fender from a public perception standpoint, but I have no idea about the legal grounds.
There are too many beautiful guitar shapes out there.
Same with a Strat.
So, I support Fender from a public perception standpoint, but I have no idea about the legal grounds.
There are too many beautiful guitar shapes out there.
Posted on 5/28/26 at 3:57 pm to wareaglepete
quote:
The folks bitching the loudest weren’t going to buy a Fender anyways.
I've seen people on-line threatening to sell their classic Fenders. Like that hurts Fender.
Posted on 5/28/26 at 4:05 pm to Bjorn Cyborg
quote:
I've seen people on-line threatening to sell their classic Fenders. Like that hurts Fender.
Attention seekers. Stupid. Imma sell my classic instrument because the company is a meanie! Wah!
Posted on 5/28/26 at 4:21 pm to wareaglepete
Fender lost their chance to stop the Strat copies decades ago
So many companies build better Strats now at cheaper prices
This just reeks of desperation and judging by the content online, very few people are in Fender's corner
Maybe Fender should try doing something different besides offering the millionth reissue with different pickups
So many companies build better Strats now at cheaper prices
This just reeks of desperation and judging by the content online, very few people are in Fender's corner
Maybe Fender should try doing something different besides offering the millionth reissue with different pickups
Posted on 5/28/26 at 4:30 pm to metallica81788
quote:
Maybe Fender should try doing something different besides offering the millionth reissue with different pickups
Maybe the other companies should come up with their own designs. Wow.
Posted on 5/28/26 at 8:06 pm to WonderWartHawg
quote:
All I can figure is that Fender is hurting for money, and this is going to pretty much do them in.
I doubt this is the case.
I imagine, like Pete said, the John Mayer thing probably pissed Fender off.
I don't know much about him, but I think I've always seen him playing Strats.
For PRS to build a signature model that is a copy of another company's flagship guitar is pretty ridiculous.
It would be different if PRS was a small boutique builder but they are a major company now.
This post was edited on 5/28/26 at 10:30 pm
Posted on 5/28/26 at 9:38 pm to wareaglepete
Fender are being whinny bitches. Over and over courts have ruled against Fender and Gibson for that matter, Gibson sued PRS over their Singlecut line of guitars and lost. I own two strat style guitars and neither is a Fender. What’s next are they gonna tell Tom Anderson and Suhr to quit making Telecaster style guitars?
ETA had to fins this video from Beato with Tim Pierce and PRS comparing a Silver Sky to vintage strats. PRS makes some of the best guitars. No CEOs of Fender or Gibson knows as much about pickups as he does.
ETA had to fins this video from Beato with Tim Pierce and PRS comparing a Silver Sky to vintage strats. PRS makes some of the best guitars. No CEOs of Fender or Gibson knows as much about pickups as he does.
This post was edited on 5/28/26 at 9:58 pm
Posted on 5/28/26 at 10:02 pm to SingleMalt1973
I saw a video with Tim Pierce or maybe another luthier recently saying the strat body copyright expired in the US years ago, therefore the only cases they have are the strat copies overseas.
I have no idea if any of this is true, but that's what a reputable person on YouTube told me.
I have no idea if any of this is true, but that's what a reputable person on YouTube told me.
Posted on 5/28/26 at 10:16 pm to deeprig9
That is correct as LSUDVM1999 pointed out it became public domain in 2009.
Posted on 5/28/26 at 11:20 pm to SingleMalt1973
You all suck at the dick of PRS, but why can’t they innovate their own designs if they are so awesome?
Why?
Why?
Posted on 5/29/26 at 5:55 am to LSUDVM1999
quote:
If it's an EXACT copy of a Strat then Fender may have a case but if it's just based on the Strat shape, from my understanding Fender lost that trademark ruling in 2009 and it's considered public domain.
What is supposed to be illegal, still, is copying the headstock.
Posted on 5/29/26 at 6:41 am to wareaglepete
PRS has always been innovative. They were one of the first to get into CNC . They brought back flamed maple tops. They were very innovative in the pickups as well as offering coil tapping. They even designed their own locking tuner system, as well as many new bridge designs to improve intonation. Their QC and tolerances are much higher than Fender or Gibson. The other thing they do is if they are always looking to make improvements but not just changing design aspects to sell guitars. I have lost count of all the Fender Vintage lines now.
Posted on 5/29/26 at 7:12 am to SingleMalt1973
quote:
Their QC and tolerances are much higher than Fender or Gibson.
Maybe. Fender sells so many more instruments it could be hard to compare. I think what hurts Fender’s reputation in QC is quite frankly Guitar Center. People pull one off the wall there and GC doesn’t set them up, a bunch of wankers have already banged on them, etc. Most PRS most likely come from Sweetwater or smaller shops that take better care of their inventory.
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