Off Topic Sire Z Series? How?

[mynan]

I'm not going to post a link. You can look it up for yourselves, but how is that legal? Is it licensed? Did someone let a patent/trademark expire? Delete this if we're not allowed to talk about it, but clearly the design is "borrowed".

 

[dave1812]

Wow, i guess it‘s different enough.
But even the bridge looks really similar and they basically copied the 5 Bolt Neck Plate
I‘m not sure what Trademarks and Copyrights EBMM owns
But i‘ve even seen the 4+2 Guitar Headstock on other Guitarbrands lately, and i thought EBMM had the rights to that design

 

[DrKev]

Sire Z-series do not infringe anything. Ernie Ball have a trademark on the headstock shape and the 3+1 tuners. Body shape, pickguard, bridge, pickup, neck bolts, etc are not trademarked. Ernie Ball currently have nearly 50 active trademarks and a good legal team and they do file suit to protect their trademarks when appropriate. We don't need to do it for them.

BTW, it is a trademark, not a copyright.

Trademark, patent, or copyright

Trademarks, patents, and copyrights are different types of intellectual property, learn the differences between them.

www.uspto.gov

 

[tbonesullivan]

The bridge looks like a cross between an EBMM Sterling and a Lakland. The headstock shape is different, and the 4 bangers have 4 pegs in a row, not the 3+1 of a music man. Not sure if they would really be able to do anything, as there aren't any wordmarks or trademarked items shown.

 

[gluvhand]

The headstock shape and layout is different now. The initial photos used for pre-order had 3+1 and very similar if not exactly the same shape and I think a few were actually made as such.