Fender sues Thomann over Stratocaster copyright claims

Fender Stratocaster copyright dispute Thomann GmbH Harley Benton musical instrument industry

The US instrument manufacturer Fender has filed a lawsuit against Thomann GmbH, Europe’s largest music retailer, at the Düsseldorf District Court. Fender alleges that Thomann is selling copies of the iconic Stratocaster electric guitar under its own brand, Harley Benton.

The legal battle follows a March ruling by the Düsseldorf District Court in a separate case involving a Chinese manufacturer. In that instance, the court determined that the Stratocaster body is a copyrighted work of applied art. Fender has indicated that this decision provides enforceable rights against Stratocaster-shaped guitars manufactured, sold, or distributed within Germany and the European Union.

Thomann, which reported a revenue of 1.5 billion euros in 2024, previously announced its intention to take legal action against Fender in June. Fender has expressed a preference for cooperative dialogue with manufacturers to find ways to differentiate designs, though the litigation continues.

Entities

Fender · Harley Benton · Landgericht Düsseldorf · Thomann GmbH

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] Fender accuses Thomann of selling identical Stratocaster copies under the Harley Benton brand. www.zeit.de · www.dk-online.de · www.op-online.de · www.noz.de
[● 4 SOURCES] Thomann GmbH reported a revenue of 1.5 billion euros in 2024. www.zeit.de · www.dk-online.de · www.op-online.de · www.noz.de
[● 4 SOURCES] Fender has sued Thomann GmbH in the Düsseldorf District Court. www.zeit.de · www.dk-online.de · www.op-online.de · www.noz.de
[● 4 SOURCES] Fender prefers to engage in cooperative dialogue with manufacturers to differentiate designs. www.zeit.de · www.dk-online.de · www.op-online.de · www.noz.de
[● 4 SOURCES] Thomann announced legal action against Fender in June. www.zeit.de · www.dk-online.de · www.op-online.de · www.noz.de
[● 3 SOURCES] The Düsseldorf District Court ruled that the Stratocaster body is a copyrighted work of applied art. www.zeit.de · www.dk-online.de · www.noz.de
[● 2 SOURCES] A previous court decision creates enforceable rights against Stratocaster-shaped guitars in Germany and the EU. www.dk-online.de · www.noz.de