Alembic Guitars Club

Connecting => Miscellaneous => Topic started by: jazzyvee on February 06, 2017, 03:48:05 AM

Title: Surely this isn't allowed is it?
Post by: jazzyvee on February 06, 2017, 03:48:05 AM

Describing a bass for sale on ebay as "KAWAI Alembic Model # 8000796 Electric Bass Guitar Made in Japan W/ Case"
When it isn't even an Alembic!!
http://www.ebay.com/itm/KAWAI-Alembic-Model-8000796-Electric-Bass-Guitar-Made-in-Japan-W-Case-/252752868534?hash=item3ad93eb4b6:g:CTgAAOSw4DJYk-Fs (http://www.ebay.com/itm/KAWAI-Alembic-Model-8000796-Electric-Bass-Guitar-Made-in-Japan-W-Case-/252752868534?hash=item3ad93eb4b6:g:CTgAAOSw4DJYk-Fs)

Title: Re: Surely this isn't allowed is it?
Post by: keith_h on February 06, 2017, 11:29:08 AM

IMO if they are going to use an Alembic reference it should be more along the lines of "Alembic style Kawai ..." or "Alembic influenced Kawai ...". Basically an attribute to Alembic but not like the current wording that can imply that Alembic has a something more than a casual tie to Kawai or visa versa.

Title: Re: Surely this isn't allowed is it?
Post by: pauldo on February 06, 2017, 01:58:24 PM

Certainly Alembic inspired, and not a terribly ugly instrument but the details, like polishing the bridge and straightening out the saddle on the A would help. 

From a legal stand point I would think the ad is wrong.

Title: Re: Surely this isn't allowed is it?
Post by: mica on February 06, 2017, 02:04:31 PM

I've contacted the seller. While it's OK to list in the test that it's inspired by Alembic, or even that is resembles one (no one here would mistake it for sure), it's considered keyword spamming by ebay to have it in the title, and it does violate our registered trademark the way it's represented.

I hope they edit it after my email. I sure hate contacting ebay to force the issue. I've only had to do that once thank goodness!