INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IN GUITAR DESIGN

[jingle_jangle]

http://digital.premierguitar.com/premie ... 2_1/#pg166

Nothin' like telling half the story.

Nowhere is it hinted that timely registration and aggressive policing is the only way to keep knock-offs in check. And nowhere is the Rickenbacker name mentioned.

[Grey]

So some windbag lawyer who plays bass wanted to protect indivudal luthiers who make money off of copied, popular designs by fighting against Fender. Did I get the gist of it?

[jingle_jangle]

I think that's one way of looking at part of the picture the article presented.

[Grey]

Oh, I didn't realise there was more than one page. Well i'll reserve the right to maintain my windbag opinion untill I read the rest.

[paologregorio]

Must have squeaked his way into the field without taking engineering; IIRC, Intellectual Property Lawyers, along with Patent Lawyers, need an undergrad degree in one of the technical fields.

[johnallg]

In any case, no matter on which side of the issue of IP one stands, this doesn't affect RIC because they have historically protected their designs.

[jingle_jangle]

Oh, I didn't realise there was more than one page. Well i'll reserve the right to maintain my windbag opinion untill I read the rest.

Erik, anybody who has a sense of humor about himself gets a big vote from me!

[ram]

In any case, no matter on which side of the issue of IP one stands, this doesn't affect RIC because they have historically protected their designs.

What John said... page 161 essentially said that nothing had hapened for 30 years - so that was waaaay too long. Rickenbacker has been fighting to protect its designs for just about forever. So you can't have the Telecaster come out in the 50's and the say it is a trademark in the 90's.

[Serial]

To practice as a patent attorney, you have to sit for a patent bar examination. Not required (at least here) for IP law.

[johnhall]

Not only is Ron Bienstock a good attorney, who used his ability to good effect in this case, he's a very nice guy and a great player as well. He's one of the few IP attorneys that actually understand guitars inside and out.

In this case, it was a very simple matter that some folks were asleep at the wheel and simply did not take timely action to protect their marques.

[elreydlp]

Not only is Ron Bienstock a good attorney, who used his ability to good effect in this case, he's a very nice guy and a great player as well. He's one of the few IP attorneys that actually understand guitars inside and out.

In this case, it was a very simple matter that some folks were asleep at the wheel and simply did not take timely action to protect their marques.

Add to that list "excellent writer".
Ron wrote a column in Guitar World for many years and was able to explain complicated legal issues suucinctly and in an understandable manner.

[johnhall]

Ron work for many years at International Musician Magazine, which is where I first met him. I seem to remember Grover Jackson, or someone else that knows him well say that his family had owned or founded that publication.

[rickenbrother]

Like I've said in the past, had Fender & Gibson protected their IP's from the start as RIC has, then EVERYBODY would understand and appreciate why guitar makers protect their IP's.

[ram]

Like I've said in the past, had Fender & Gibson protected their IP's from the start as RIC has, then EVERYBODY would understand and appreciate why guitar makers protect their IP's.

yep.

[nukebass]

I guess the law is the law and that's the only reason why you have to police your trademarks to be able to claim them, but I do think it is silly for anyone to even try to say that the Strat, Tele, Precision, and Jazz shapes aren't Fender designs. I also don't see there being a difference in copying a shape and paying homage to the shape (by copying it).

My guess is that Rickenbacker wasn't mentioned in the article because they have always protected their trademarks and don't have to worry about the aftermath fifty years later.