Attn Wonderdog & BP

[peterd79]

Not that i'm not to go digging up dirt or whatnot... but i stumbled upon this earlier today and it had me wondering...

If i'm not mistaken EBMM has an exclusive hold on the usage of a 4+2 headstock configuration meaning that no other company can use the 4+2 without being in violation of the exclusivity that EBMM has...

SO... without further a due how would this fall into that category...

Guy StarCruiser

 

[Jack FFR1846]

Good catch there

 

[ScreaminFloyd]

There have been at least 5 Guitar Makers in the past even before Music Man that have used the 4/2 headstock. Gretsch being one of them. I can look up the other Guitar mfg. names if anyone wants them.

 

[Big Poppa]

screaming floyd...do you know anything about trademark law? just checkin...oh wait you dont by your post.

 

[jamminjim]

guy guitars is in Sweden Welcome to Paul Guy Guitars and it
doesn't look like those guitars are available anymore.

 

[threeminutesboy]

Imho those guitars just look ugly either it's a strat or an ebmm but a mix of both is just against nature

 

[ScreaminFloyd]

screaming floyd...do you know anything about trademark law? just checkin...oh wait you dont by your post.

Sorry Pops, No I don't know anything about TradeMarks Laws. I do know Patents mean really nothing unless you have money and lawyers to back them up. Even then it cost lots of money to defend them. So really it's first to market. All I was saying is that there were 5 other guitar makers that made the 4x2 headstock first before Music Man. Nothing beating the quality of Music Man guitars though. I do have the maker names if you want them. I'm sure you already know who they are though. Have a nice day Big Poppa. Don't get so riled up all the time.. I'm not the enemy, I'm a customer. A loyal customer even. But since I post in this forum, You probably don't give a crap anyways... Have a nice day though.

 

[paranoid70]

I must agree. It is a bit of an excessive move to pwn a customer like that for a rather innocuous comment.

 

[BrickGlass]

I must agree. It is a bit of an excessive move to pwn a customer like that for a rather innocuous comment.

+1, unless I'm not understanding what happened correctly, or not understanding some kind of intent correctly.

 

[Big Poppa]

thanks brick...


But since you answered my question I will fill you in...first to market has NOTHING to do with it....it is what people associate with it that establishes the trademark. 3 and 1 and 4 and 2 is Music Man......

 

[Zoom]

And how about 2+4 (I mean flipped, 2 on top and 4 on the bottom), like on my trusty Carvin H2T?
Always wondered why didn't they do it the other way around the head. Was it due to the trademark laws?

 

[ScreaminFloyd]

And how about 2+4 (I mean flipped, 2 on top and 4 on the bottom), like on my trusty Carvin H2T?
Always wondered why didn't they do it the other way around the head. Was it due to the trademark laws?

Gretsch Did a 4x2 the regular way and a reversed 2x4. It would be kind of" If you don't use it, you lose it" type of deal. But if Gretsch came back with the 4x2 and started mass producing. Music Man would have a right to go after them because or any previous maker for abandoning the 4x2 idea.

 

[Big Poppa]

Screaming....it wouldnt be because abandonment it would because most guitarists relate 4+2 to Music Man and that is the legal standard for trademarks. If you dont enforce it you lose it.

I know you thought I was testy but understand that for abou t6 or 7 years every time one of these comes up there is a post or two that sets the tone and unfortunately doesnt understand the basics of the law that applies. Either that or the get sympathetic for the little guy.

 

[peterd79]

BP-
Thanks for adding to the post. I knew that the trademark 4+2 was an association and that's how it's established as illegal to copy.
I hope it was viewed as my trying to help protect what i believed to be a violation of the trademark owned by EBMM and not take it in a direction to steam up the kitchen a bit.

As always we appreciate your participation and feedback.

 

[GHWelles]

EBMM has long established federally registered trademarks for the 4+2 and the headstock shape, etc.

 

[DrKev]

And for those of you who don't know, Wonder Dog is EBMM's legal beagle.

 

[bkrumme]

EBMM has long established federally registered trademarks for the 4+2 and the headstock shape, etc.

This is what really matters. If my understanding is correct, even if someone used it before EBMM it wouldn't matter because EBMM holds the federally registered trademark. So long as BP and crew defend their intellectual property, the 4+2, 3+1 headstock shape, etc belong to EBMM. They also have the option of licensing the trademark to other companies, so another guitar maker could pay for the privilege to use the 4+2 and 3+1 headstock designs.

Also, walk into Guitar Center. Tell me how many brands you see that use 4+2 or 3+1 headstocks. I can think of only one...

 

[Pablo]

The "easy" way around this, is to operate out of Sweden, as Paul Guy does, where these trademarks do not apply... In short: nothing to see, nothing to do...

 

[Astrofreq]

That guitar looks dorky. I'm not buying one.