Thomann takes legal action against Fender

Thomann, a major music retailer and guitar manufacturer, is taking legal action against Fender's cease-and-desist demands targeting companies selling S-style guitars (guitars modeled after Fender's iconic Stratocaster). Thomann argues that the Stratocaster's functional body shape has become part of the public domain through decades of innovation by luthiers worldwide, and that Fender's copyright claims threaten industry diversity and competition. The company asserts that this legal dispute extends beyond a trademark issue and could fundamentally limit future guitar design innovation.