FEATURE
Class is in Session
We feature many of the new, hot companies that exhibited at NAMM in January.
Gibson
Indictments Likely
Gibson Guitar is expected to face charges due to alleged illegal wood imports.
NRF Talks Jobs,
Jobs and More Jobs
The key to retailers' success for 2011 is, you guessed it, jobs. But a lot more was discussed at the 100th NRF Annual Convention.
It’s a Record!
We give you a huge review of last month’s NAMM show. Were retailers and manufacturers optimistic for the rest of this year?
MSR Exclusive Interview
Zildjian and Vic Firth have teamed up to form a percussion powerhouse. We met with Craigie Zildjian and Vic Firth at NAMM to give you all of the details about the merger.
Music Group's Master Plan
We get an exclusive look at the future of The Music Group, parent of Behringer, Bugera and more. We get an exclusive look at product launches, as well!
Knock it Off With the Knockoffs!
Counterfeit products are killing the MI industry. But one company is fighting back big time. We’ll tell you how badly knockoffs could affect the industry if left unchecked.
Music & Sound Award Nominees
We release the full list of nominees for Music & Sound Awards. See if your favorite product, person or company is nominated.
Taylor-Made For Europe
Taylor Guitars will sell all of its products directly to dealers in Europe beginning on Jan. 1. Find out why the big change was made and where Taylor’s European headquarters will be. We interview Brian Swerdfeger about it first.
We Cover it All!
For the second time, we honor instruments that get zero or little press...
A ‘Super’ Party on Kent Island
Experience PRS loaded up on celebrities, new products and much more. Get the full scoop...
‘Father of RMM’ Passes
Karl Bruhn, a tireless music industry devotee, mentored many and made awareness of health and wellness together a lifelong initiative.
Don’t ‘Skip’ this Story!
Skip’s Music Celebrates 30th Anniversary of its Special Event
I Just Wanna Bang
on the Drums All Day
Your One-Stop Shop For The Holidays!
Heathcare Provision Could
Be a Nightmare
America the Beautiful
Not Doubting Thomas
Mendello Retires, Thomas Named Fender CEO
Music City Mystery

Sharon Hennessey: Loves our industry, you will find out. She'll also tell you why she ultimately decided to join The Music People! And yes, she will definitely fill you in on her goals as a new NAMM board member.
Carla Alger: Being in the music industry is definitely the most exciting opportunity Carla Alger, chief financial officer at Two Old Hippies, has ever had. Find out why.
Dawn Werk:Dawn Werk, Alpha Books’ director of marketing, heads a group that is responsible for 450 non-fiction books. Now that’s a lot! Music is a small, but very important, part of that catalog.
Sonia Vallis: Sonia Vallis might be an only child, but she grew up with a sibling that has now become like another child to her.-
Catherine Polk
Cyndi Fritz
Janet Deering
Kathy How
Sarah Heil
Sue Avant

In a major twist to the Fender Musical Instruments Corp. vs. Peavey Electronics Corp. case, the latter’s attorney on March 5 asked the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board (TTAB) to cancel two prominent Fender headstock trademarks. Ron Bienstock, lawyer for Bienstock & Michael, P.C., has asked the TTAB to cancel patents for the ‘733 and ‘869 headstocks—which were previously granted to Fender by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)—due to “inconsistencies in the chain of title.” The TTAB is a division of the USPTO.

“It is our position that there are numerous inconsistencies with the declaration in respect to the chain of title in both the ‘869 and ‘733 headstock,” Bienstock told the Retailer. “The ‘869 is often referred to as the ‘larger headstock’ and the ‘733 as the ‘smaller headstock.’ We’re asking for a cancellation of the registrations they have for the two headstocks.

“There are three or four different versions on how the chain of title goes from point A to point B,” he continued. “They can’t all be correct. [Also being disputed] is first dates of usage and on what instruments they actually consisted of.”

The chain of title Bienstock is referring to includes what he alleges to be a transfer of ownership from Fender Electronic Instruments Corp. to Columbia Records Distribution Corp. (not CBS Inc. as most believe). “[U]pon information and belief, CBS Inc. did not acquire any purported common-law trademark rights to the ‘869 headstock from Columbia Records Distribution Corp,” wrote Bienstock… “[Fender’s] alleged predecessor-in-interest, CBS Inc., perpetrated fraud upon the USPTO in applying for registration of the ‘869 headstock.”

Fender’s attorney, Oscar Alcantara of the law firm Goldberg, Kohn, Bell, Black, Rosenbloom & Moritz, Ltd., said his client did not want to make comments about these charges at this time. “We would prefer to make statements in the public proceedings,” said Alcantara. He added that Fender, at the time of our interview, still had plenty of time to file a rebuttal to Bienstock’s statements.

For more information on the case, visit www.uspto.gov, look for the TTAB tab, and look under serial number 78743406 or opposition number 91175442.

[ pages: 1]