Rickresource Rickenbacker Forum

Sure looks to me like an unauthorized copy of RIC's trademarked body shape.

You should check out this guys other auctions. He makes all sorts of guitar bodies and his work is very good for the price. As far as the 4001 body shape goes...hmmm...hard to tell if it's an exact copy. All Parts makes 4001 replacement bridges legally. I've heard that if the "copy" design is varied by 15%, that it's not considered copywrite infringement.

Still according to Ric's website they have a trademark on the body shape, and I agree with Dave. I believe that if Ric stays consistant with previous auctions and copies they'll shut the guy down.

I doubt if he'd be shut down for making what amounts to one Rick body so far anymore than The Rick Page was shut down for selling truss rod cover blanks and old style 4001 pick guards. If you look at his other auctions, you'll see he makes plenty of non copywrited stuff. He'll probably get a cease and desist order and that will be that. I'm a Ricky fan from the word go but some here are a little to gung ho. Relax, a bolt on 4001 body isn't fooling anyone.

I don't know that he's only made one, whether or not he plans to make more, or at what point RIC would take action. But the fact that he advertises it as a Rickenbacker copy is problematic.

This is trademark law, not copyright. And I'm not a lawyer, but I know that if it's similar enough that the maker calls it a copy, and it's a copy of a trademarked item, then it's a violation.

Personally I don't really care if it's a bolt on or not, it's the fact that he used the "R" word and it's a voilation, plain and simple. I suspect that he'll get a letter, and that's that.