…unless it’s an amp. In that case I can recycle it for you.
NOTE: The first Fender stratocaster guitar was sold in 1954. Now their new CEO wants to sue every copycat of the strat worldwide. 
Deeper supplemental info:
Is it just the Strat ? They have the telecaster and offset bodies as well
Any publicity is good publicity.
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Just the Stratocaster, for now.
That’s ridiculous: as usual, Rick gives his informed and reasoned response. No wonder he has over 5 million subscribers.
Geoff
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I wonder if this is related to Fender trying to trademark the name Leo Fender after G&L’s demise last year? These corporate schmucks need to change their focus. I agree with Rick - they need to make a great product again, instead of shooting themselves in the foot.
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The top 5 automakers in the world as of 2025 are Toyota, Volkswagen Group, Hyundai Motor Group, Stellantis, and General Motors.
I absolutely love my Fender Stratocaster. Made in Japan 1983. It plays better than any Gibson I’ve ever touched.
What do the top 5 auto makers have to do with this?
Must be thinking of the wrong fenders. 
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All the top automakers were American until they started treating their customers like crap. I own a Fender 12-string, 1974 vintage. Beautiful.
A voice has entered the fray on behalf of the little guy.
At the heart of Thomann’s case is the claim that form follows function — that the Stratocaster shape is not merely artistic but functional as well. The guitar’s double cutaways provide upper-fret access and help balance the body, making them practical design elements. Thomann also argues that Fender has benefited from the shape’s ubiquity, which can be seen in everything from Eddie Van Halen’s Frankenstein to the rise of the Superstrat.
I mentioned in the OP that the Strat was introduced in '54. Maybe Fender should have done their due diligence back then and properly patented their designs instead of bullying the entire industry 75 years after the fact.
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Not to opine on the merits or potential outcomes, however, there are significant differences in patent vs copyright protections; coverage usage and importantly here duration of protections. Patents typically 20 years, but for copyrights 70yrs beyond life of the creative.
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Excellent point. I collected data in support of such on behalf of my employers for many years. Fender put forth no effort for either form of protection, so far as I can tell, over the lifetime of that product. In short, Fender holds no patents, has a trademark on the name, and only secured copyright protection through this recent lawsuit against makers unable or unwilling to participate in court.
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They’ve not only shot themselves in the foot, they blew the entire leg off from a marketing perspective. It won’t be long now - RIP Fender.
For a company of this size, is it just a flesh wound?
I think Negative PR like this carries a lot of weight with creative people. This whole mess sure doesn’t instill confidence in the brand and there are other options hanging on the wall at music stores these days.