Time to call the legal department!

[ptg]

When will this madness stop?

NEW! 4-String Electric Bass Guitar (Black) | eBay

 

[bassmonkeee]

There's nothing legally wrong with that one. While it's an obvious (cheap) copy, they don't refer to it as a Stingray, and t doesn't have the 3+1 headstock.

 

[ptg]

But it is obvious that they are using the StingRay body!

 

[Thornton Davis]

They can't even get the description right!

TD

 

[bassmonkeee]

But it is obvious that they are using the StingRay body!

That's not something they can be legally enjoined from doing.

 

[nurnay]

Saw this one on TB. The description cracks me up:

Offering classic SG shape as a bass guitar, this electric bass in shinny black color is nicely affordable and easy to play thanks to its short-scale, narrow neck and total fret access. It features a carved SG mahogany body for a vintage bass tone, a single SideWinder bass humbucker pickup, rosewood fretboard with dot inlay, and chrome hardware including a fully-adjustable 3-point bridge.

 

[jlepre]

But it's BLACK, and I just won't buy a BLACK bass no matter WHAT the description...

 

[GHWelles]

This one makes no use of the Music Man trademark or the 3+1, BUT Sterling body is a direct copy and violates trade dress law.

 

[ptg]

I rest my case!

 

[Powman]

"shinny black color" is my favorite colour!

 

[mstott25]

I'm pretty new to posting around here so I don't intend to rock the boat, but I'm genuinely curious about how something like this can be done...

Apparently you can still copy musicman basses if you tweak a few things here and there?

"We are pleased to announce our newest instrument, the xx[Non-Musicman]xx vM5. This is our 5-string take on the classic Music Man® bass, complete with our old school style 2B-MM preamp..."

 

[ptg]

I'm no expert but I am under the impression that the headstock design does fall under trademark laws and cannot be duplicated.

Someone from the legal team can give a better answer I'm sure!

 

[oddjob]

I'm no expert but I am under the impression that the headstock design does fall under trademark laws and cannot be duplicated.

Someone from the legal team can give a better answer I'm sure!

I don't think it does... 3+1 is an issue, 4+1 is not.

 

[smallequestrian]

I'm no expert...

Agreed!

 

[ptg]

Agreed!

OUCH!!!

Very interesting that the 4+1 is okay but not the 3+1 since it is the same concept.

You learn something new every day!