Rickenbacker vs. Jason Lollar, and I get to testify!

[Rick Turner]

Yep, I just got a subpoena today to testify at a deposition in the Rickenbacker vs. Lollar case re. the horseshoe pickup horseshit case. I can't wait!

I, of course, told Jason I'd do whatever I could for him. Now I get the chance to do so. I'm going in with a full demonstration of my own horseshoe pickups with inductance figures of the coil in and out of the horseshoe and hopefully some impulse test results.

Rickenbacker getting a trademark on the design was such an egregious perversion of the patent/copyright process it was ridiculous. Hopefully Jason will blow them out of the water.

[big_teee]

Good Luck to You Both!
T
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[Leo_Gnardo]

Best of luck Rick and Jason and I hope you knock the judge's socks off. I'm not familiar with this particular case but Ricketybacker did have those monster-magnet fry pan lap steels in the late 1920's. Patent time's up on that, no question, 65 years ago at least. However you mentioned trademark, and trademarks are not patents nor are copyrights, so I'm wondering what Rickenbacker's "angle" is. S'more details on "what it's about" when you feel like typing 'em, and keep us updated on the trial. All the best for "our team"!

[J M Fahey]

I'm afraid that by stating publicly and in writing in a very public place:

I, of course, told Jason I'd do whatever I could for him. Now I get the chance to do so.

you may be jeopardizing your value as a witness or Technical Expert, which are supposed to be neutral on every count.

Any somewhat competent Lawyer would at least use this to weaken whatever you say which might help Jason.

That said, I wish both of you lots of luck .

Just check with his Lawyer.

[Justin Thomas]

Quick! Nuke the MEF! Destroy the evidence!

As if ANY witness is ever completely unbiased and totally objective. I guess it depends on which lawyer issued the subpoena? Maybe it'll become Rickenbacker vs. Jason Lollar, et. al.

Either way, best of luck to both of you!

Justin

[copperheadroads]

Best of luck to you guys ...

[Mark Hammer]

While Rickenbacker is no big steamroller, crushing the little guys, they do have a history of pursuing what they consider to be infringements of their trademark body styles with gusto and consistency. Which is, of course, why you will rarely ever see an Asian-made clone, or at least anything that gets produced for any length of time before being shut down by Rickenbacker's legal team.

Not quite as blatantly foolish as Gibson going after PRS for the Single-Cut nearly a half-century after several millions of single-cutaway guitars had been produced by dozens of foreign and domestic manufacturers. But not a slam-dunk, either.

Having said that, the treatment of horseshoe pickups as somehow distinctive and unique to Rickenbackers, and automatically associated with them and only them, makes about as much sense to me as considering Danelectro lipstick pickups as an infringement on Telecasters, because they're (lipstick and Tele neck) both single coils in a slender, enclosed, shiny chrome-plated cover.

[mr fab]

if rick would have embraced Jason's version of their defunct horseshoe, and offered it as un upgrade or option to their basses, I am sure it would have been better for both parties. as an example, gretsch offer tv-jones pickups on their guitars

there is enough room on this planet for everyone. mr hall needs to grow up

whilst I have never owned a rick, I would have liked to one day.... until now.

[Rick Turner]

They've settled and I don't have to testify. Details of the settlement...as usual...not to be even whispered. But Jason did tell me that Rickenbacker's "expert witness" clearly did not have a clue as to how pickups actually work. That was no surprise to me...

[mr fab]

thanks for the info rick, so will Jason be able to sell his horseshoe pups again?

[Rick Turner]

I don't know yet. I'd like to make mine, too.

[Quarter]

I don't know yet. I'd like to make mine, too.

That would be great news for both of you if it comes to pass. I've used a couple of Jason's recent Horseshoes and was heartbroken when they went away.
Here is where my last one went.

[ken]

Good Luck... in the end

ken

[jason lollar]

Rick Turner knows the story behind this and I dont think I ever said anything to anyone else but Rick was one of my inspirations to build electric guitars. Anyway I was really pleased to have him on my list along with several others. People in this industry are more often than not a pleasure to have as allies, competitors and just as people accomplishing similar goals.

Other than that "no comments at this time"

I can say the legal system is not in any way navigable in the manner people think and most of what people said on forums about the matter was off the mark, dont believe what you read on the internet!

[Dr Quist]

I too was there to help testify , but did not due to the settlement . I sure was more than happy to help Jason with his case.