Thomann has filed a lawsuit against Fender after the guitar maker issued cease‑and‑desist letters to European and U.S. sellers. Fender recently secured a default judgment at the Düsseldorf Regional Court against a Chinese S‑style guitar trader, a ruling based on missed procedural deadlines rather than substantive copyright analysis. Thomann is seeking to curb overreaching claims.

The dispute centers on the Stratocaster’s body shape, which Fender claims is protected by copyright. Thomann notes the silhouette has been in the public domain in the United States for decades, inspiring countless luthiers, including major brands like PRS and Suhr, and underscores the economic impact on retailers who rely on a broad catalog of S‑style models worldwide today.

CEO Hans Thomann frames the case as a defense of smaller manufacturers lacking resources to fight legal battles. He urges Fender to drop its demands and return to collaborative practices, warning that aggressive enforcement could stifle the ecosystem that has historically driven new guitar designs. The case puts pressure on other makers considering protection strategies in Europe.