Bob-Dubery
Anybody else heard this?
Apparently CF Martin have filed for a retrospective patent for X-bracing and also for guitars with fretted necks and 6 strings extended from nut to bridge. The latter goes back to 1838. Martin will claim retrospective royalties on this design. Given the number of guitars that Fender, Gibson etc have built in the interim, the back royalties (with compound interest) are expected to be ruinous.
A spokesman for CF Martin said that for some years Martin turned a blind eye to clear cribbing of their designs in the interests of the greater good of the industry, but in the current economic climate they have to safeguard their own survival first and may the Devil take the hindmost.
George Gruhn apparently has said that he hears that Gibson will be instructing their lawyers to seek compensation from other makers for the use of the f-hole (on guitars only), that Martin have also applied for a patent on the use of Mahogany for back and sides, and that Fender, via their Ovation subsidiary, will be "talking to the competition" about the use of "through" bridges and sound holes that are not f-holes but are not centrally located relative to the strings.
The good news, it seems to me, is that just about any guitar you currently own now becomes "pre-lawsuit".
Sean
?
Heath
Ok this seems stupid to me , i am all for making money , but they taking it to a new level , instead of working for your money , lets sue everyone , put millions out of jobs and make a few easy millions , for a design that almost every fretted instrument has
MikeM
OH WOW TOTALLY SHOCKING!!!
[deleted]
//Edit
No... I wont get involved here
IceCreamMan
er ,take a step back look at the calendar ....... then carry on as per normal
MikeM
Norman86
:roflmao:
arjunmenon
? I wonder if anyone has the patent to soundholes.
Heath
is it still illegal to maul a op ???????
*plots a termite infestation on Bobs guitars*
costafonix
Shocking story,,,,
Was the Martin spokesman not Mr. A. Prilfoolianson by any chance?? ?
Bob-Dubery
I believe the journalist's name was Loof Lirpa
costafonix
X-rated Bob wrote
I believe the journalist's name was Loof Lirpa
oh, ok, his distant cousin ?
Lethe
X-rated Bob wrote
I believe the journalist's name was Loof Lirpa
Rofl. Nice.
Fingerpicker
If they proceed with the lawsuit it may be the end of customer goodwill for Martin. Guitarists worldwide would be pee'd off.
A-holes !
StephenG
Fingerpicker wrote
If they proceed with the lawsuit it may be the end of customer goodwill for Martin. Guitarists worldwide would be pee'd off.
A-holes !
in this case - there is a perfectly good reason why thread-necrophilia should not be encouraged !!
Jack-Flash-Jr
This is completely outrageous!!!!!!!! >☹ >☹ >☹ >☹
resurrecting an april fools zombie thread
?
Fingerpicker
You got me..
Will check dates from now on! ?
deefstes
ROFL. Gotta love this. The April Fool's joke that keeps on giving ?
Tonedef
It may have been an April fool's joke, but my first reaction was 'christ, the Rambus Inc. of the guitar world!'
Which tainted Martin's rep in my mind, ill-deservedly.
These kinds of jokes can have unforseen side-effects.
