Klon Centaur maker's lawsuit against Behringer has been dismissed - Guitar.com

Guitar manufacturer Behringer's legal battle with Klon Centaur creator Bill Finnegan over alleged trademark infringement has been dismissed by a Massachusetts federal court.

The lawsuit began when Finnegan accused Behringer of creating a "blatant counterfeit" with their $69 Centaur Overdrive pedal, claiming it copied the iconic Klon design. Following the legal action, Behringer made several changes to distance their product from the original, including renaming it from "Centaur" to "Centara" and eventually "Zentara," plus altering visual elements like logo placement and artwork. The case dismissal suggests a possible out-of-court settlement between the parties.

• Guitar pedal clones are common, with manufacturers typically protecting designs through trademark "trade dress" rather than circuit patents
• The original lawsuit highlighted consumer confusion, with many buyers thinking they were purchasing a licensed Klon product
• US trademark law requires companies to actively enforce their trademarks to maintain future legal protection
• Some Behringer units were resold for up to $2,000 during the controversy as collectors anticipated discontinuation