Discuss. Fender just won a Strat copyright lawsuit in the EU

a) I wonder how closely it has to resemble the Strat shape. . . e.g. are "sharper" super-strat styles protected or no?
b) Sucks for all the vendors who sell a S-style guitar, but you know, come up with something unique.
c) Point b aside, what's to stop an acoustic manufacturer from doing the same thing with the standard acoustic shapes?
 
I heard something about this, but don't know the details. Is it just the EU? What about all the Strat & Tele copies coming out of China? Seems a little late in the game for this, honestly. If folks want a genuine Strat, they know where to get one. :shrug:
 
I have no idea how eu trademark protection works but the decision seem awfully late to the game and ultimately self defeating. I can understand wanting to protect your own eu firms but this just seems like an unnecessary giveaway to Trumps trade pressure and large American cooperation who failed to pursue the protection in its home market.
Here in the good ol USA to protect a trademark you gotta be prompt, aggressive, and sue the pants off everybody a la Gibson.
 
Seems weird.

The Strat is so old and fundamental that it seems like it should be public domain by now... but I suppose if they can get the rights to protect the shape it will just force manufacturers to be more creative with shapes and designs... which may be good... or may be the ushering in of the era of the ugliest guitars ever seen by mankind. :messedup:
 
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