Timeline entry
Fender counter-sues Thomann for copyright infringement over the Stratocaster shape
Fender filed a copyright infringement action against Thomann at the Regional Court of Düsseldorf on July 16, responding to Thomann's earlier Declaration of Non-Infringement. Fender said “our preference has always been dialogue and practical solutions — not litigation. Unfortunately, Thomann chose a different path,” and argued Thomann is not a small builder but “one of the world's largest musical instrument retailers, one of Fender's largest retail partners, and the owner of Harley Benton, one of Europe's largest guitar brands.” Thomann said it acted “for the many manufacturers, dealers and guitar makers who have shaped our industry for decades,” putting both sides' competing claims before the same Düsseldorf court.
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Timeline context
This note is one entry in the AltGuitar Legal Timeline — a chronological record of the Fender-style guitar-shape dispute, court rulings, cease-and-desist reports and market reactions. See the full timeline for the surrounding context.
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