A threat from Steinway

[Dave W]

Steinway & Sons Threatens Legal Action Against Owners of its Pianos

Steinway's attorney's are trying to prevent owners of used Steinways from calling them Steinways if they have been repaired or rebuilt with any non-Steinway parts.  Can you imagine the ramifications if guitar and bass manufacturers tried to prevent you from advertising your brand name instrument if it had aftermarket electronics or hardware?

[Alanko]

A totally ridiculous stance.

[Granny Gremlin]

I did not realise it was possible to out-Ric Rickenbacker as regards pedantic trademark protectionism, but live and learn.

[slinkp]

It sounds crazy, but then so does paying hundreds of thousands for an instrument.

[Pilgrim]

That makes as little sense as Ford suing to have the nameplates of a vehicle removed if the owner customizes it or swaps engines. Reee-dickle-yus-ness.

[Rob]

That makes as little sense as Ford suing to have the nameplates of a vehicle removed if the owner customizes it or swaps engines. Reee-dickle-yus-ness.

LOL or installs aftermarket floor mats.

[eb2]

I think the only thing wackier is anyone going into the new and used Steinway business. Not exactly a line that will experience growth.

[Psycho Bass Guy]

I think the only thing wackier is anyone going into the new and used Steinway business. Not exactly a line that will experience growth.

...but there's always that 60-80% profit margin to offset the risk.

[Dave W]

Rickenbacker has been able to get away with their eBay tactics b/c no one with a cheap Ric copy is going to spend the time and money to challenge them. If you own a Ric copy, it's absolutely legal for you to sell it and to call it a copy of a Rickenbacker.

If Steinway chooses to pursue this in the marketplace, it's a lot more serious. It's not a question of a copy, it's about being able to describe a real Steinway as being real.  A dealer could challenge it but Steinway could cancel a dealership agreement. They can't be allowed to get away with it. If they try, hopefully some state attorney general will intervene, or maybe a lawsuit in a state with a good SLAPP statute.

[lowend1]

Can you imagine the ramifications if guitar and bass manufacturers tried to prevent you from advertising your brand name instrument if it had aftermarket electronics or hardware?

Never mind that. After a few years, your car would probably have fifty nameplates on it.

[uwe]

I was unaware that Rickenbacker had bought a piano outfit. Must go out more often.

[clankenstein]

It's the angry piano department.