Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Off-Topic
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 163
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 163
This thread is in response to an interesting topic started in another about copying "form factors" as intellectual property.


Question: What classic axe is this?




Answer:
Click to reveal..
It's a Butterscotch Fender Telecaster, of course. Wrong! Keep clicking.


Click to reveal..



Last edited by PRearden; 07/30/13 10:06 AM. Reason: to reduce clutter and annoyance
Off-Topic
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 163
Apprentice
OP Offline
Apprentice
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 163
So, how close is too close when it comes to copying? In guitars we seem to accept 100% with the exception of the headstock logo. Why do we feel differently about other products? For example the cable testers from the original thread:

http://www.musiciansfriend.com/search.jsp?sB=r&Ntt=cable+tester


Why is it wrong for Berhinger to copy the form of a competitor, and acceptable practice for Hamer and the host of other guitar manufactuers?

How many guitars are copies of the original Teles and Strats? How about the Gibson SG, or Les Paul?

Off-Topic
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,987
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,987
With us old flatulent Irishmen, electronic technician types, Barry got off to a bad start by blatantly "ripping off" the designs of his leading competitors thus eliminating the very expensive R&D stages of product development. A practice that was totally unfair to people like Greg Mackie and countless other industry leaders who had paid their dues and all R&D costs incurred in marketing the product only to have Berringer come along and "borrow" hard work that others had laboriously put into the design. There was a time when entire circuit boards were "pirated" down to, and including, Mackie's original errors.

Being a friend of Greg's, I was soured on Barry until just recently when, upon trusted advice from friends here that Barry has turned it all around and has quit "borrowing" designs, a bought a pair of MS40 Near Field Monitors. I'm very happy with them 6 months later.

My 2 Loonies.

Off-Topic
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492
Expert
Offline
Expert
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 1,492
There is copyright and there is copyright. It all depends on the topic. For some interesting ideas see here: http://www.ted.com/talks/johanna_blakley_lessons_from_fashion_s_free_culture.html

The folks whose poducts are pirated in some way or the other are mostly the victims of their marketing strategies; sometimes the reason is their copyrighting mania.

Products that nobody wants are not pirated!


Desktop; i7-2600k, 8 GB mem., Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
Laptop: i5-2410M, 4 GB mem, Win 10 Pro, BIAB 2017; RB 2017 - latest build
Off-Topic
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,987
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 8,987
Excellent video, Guido. I truly enjoyed that. Danke.

I served as a stocking import distributor for Kiso Suzuki guitars from Japan. It was nearly impossible to tell them from the original that they were copied from until you would actually play one of them.

In electronic circuitry, there is another factor that makes design enforcement exceedingly difficult. That is: All circuitry constitutes "an application of an existing patent" therefore not patentable on it's own merits.

Off-Topic
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
M
Mac Offline
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
M
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 38,502
Knew right away that's not a real Butterscotch, first giveaway is the bright chrome plating instead of nickel, next is the contouring round the neck joint, plus the contouring around the body edges, not sharp like real Tele, the two tuners we can see aren't correct period and they, too, are bright chrome and not nickel, as well as being just plain wrong, how's that for starters?

Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
Update to Build 10 of RealBand® 2026 for Windows®!

If you're already using RealBand 2026 for Windows, download build 10 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac® users: Build 904 now available!

If you're already using Band-in-a-Box® 2025 for Mac®, make sure to grab the latest update! Build 904 is now available for download and includes the newest additions and enhancements from our team.

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® users: Build 1237 is now available!

Already a Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows user? Stay up to date and download the build 1237 to get all the latest additions and enhancements.

PowerTracks Pro 2026 for Windows is Here!

PowerTracks 2026 is here—bringing powerful new enhancements designed to make your production workflow faster, smoother, and more intuitive than ever.

The enhanced Mixer now shows Track Type and Instrument icons for instant track recognition, while a new grid option simplifies editing views. Non-floating windows adopt a modern title bar style, replacing the legacy blue bar.

The Master Volume is now applied at the end of the audio chain for consistent levels and full-signal master effects.

Tablature now includes a “Save bends when saving XML” option for improved compatibility with PG Music tools. Plus, you can instantly match all track heights with a simple Ctrl-release after resizing, and Add2 chords from MGU/SGU files are now fully supported... and more!

Get started today—first-time packages start at just $49.

Already using PowerTracks Pro Audio? Upgrade for as little as $29 and enjoy the latest improvements!

Order now!

Band-in-a-Box 2026 for Windows Special Offers End Tomorrow (January 15th, 2026) at 11:59 PM PST!

Time really is running out! Save up to 50% on Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® upgrades and receive a FREE Bonus PAK—only when you order by 11:59 PM PST on Thursday, January 15, 2026!

We've added many major new features and new content in a redesigned Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®!

Version 2026 introduces a modernized GUI redesign across the program, with updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, and a new Dark Mode option. There’s also a new side toolbar for quicker access to commonly used windows, and the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, making it easier to customize your workspace.

Another exciting new addition is the new AI-Notes feature, which can transcribe polyphonic audio into MIDI. You can view the results in notation or play them back as MIDI, and choose whether to process an entire track or focus on specific parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

Upgrade your Band-in-a-Box for Windows to save up to 50% on most Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade packages!

Plus, when you order your Band-in-a-Box® 2026 upgrade during our special, you'll receive a Free Bonus PAK of exciting new add-ons.

If you need any help deciding which package is the best option for you, just let us know. We are here to help!

Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® Special Offers Extended Until January 15, 2026!

Good news! You still have time to upgrade to the latest version of Band-in-a-Box® for Windows® and save. Our Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® special now runs through January 15, 2025!

We've packed Band-in-a-Box® 2026 with major new features, enhancements, and an incredible lineup of new content! The program now sports a sleek, modern GUI redesign across the entire interface, including updated toolbars, refreshed windows, smoother workflows, a new dark mode option, and more. The brand-new side toolbar provides quicker access to key windows, while the new Multi-View feature lets you arrange multiple windows as layered panels without overlap, creating a flexible, clutter-free workspace. We have an amazing new “AI-Notes” feature. This transcribes polyphonic audio into MIDI so you can view it in notation or play it back as MIDI. You can process an entire track (all pitched instruments and drums) or focus on individual parts like drums, bass, guitars/piano, or vocals. There's an amazing collection of new content too, including 202 RealTracks, new RealStyles, MIDI SuperTracks, Instrumental Studies, “Songs with Vocals” Artist Performance Sets, Playable RealTracks Set 5, two RealDrums Stems sets, XPro Styles PAK 10, Xtra Styles PAK 21, and much more!

There are over 100 new features in Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows®.

When you order purchase Band-in-a-Box® 2026 before 11:59 PM PST on January 15th, you'll also receive a Free Bonus PAK packed with exciting new add-ons.

Upgrade to Band-in-a-Box® 2026 for Windows® today! Check out the Band-in-a-Box® packages page for all the purchase options available.

Happy New Year!

Thank you for being part of the Band-in-a-Box® community.

Wishing you and yours a very happy 2026—Happy New Year from all of us at PG Music!

Forum Statistics
Forums57
Topics86,086
Posts800,018
Members40,031
Most Online44,367
Mar 4th, 2026
Newest Members
misoprostol, roshan2121, Din, AurealiusB, sam31985
40,031 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 153
DC Ron 92
rsdean 91
WaoBand 86
DrDan 71
Today's Birthdays
(charlie), WobblyGstring
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5