Klon sues Behringer’s parent company Music Tribe over “blatant counterfeit” of its Centaur pedal
Klon LLC has filed a lawsuit against Behringer‘s parent company Music Tribe, alleging that its recently released Centaur Overdrive is a “blatant counterfeit” of Klon’s legendary Centaur pedal.
Filed 30 May in Massachusetts federal court, the suit accuses Music Tribe of “wilful trademark counterfeiting, trademark and trade dress infringement, false designation of origin, passing off, and unfair competition”, and seeks damages as well as injunctive relief.
READ MORE: Meet the Centaur Overdrive, Behringer’s new $69 Klon Centaur clone
Released in November 2024 and priced at $69, Behringer’s Centaur Overdrive is one of many budget-friendly pedals aiming to replicate the coveted sound of the original Klon Centaur – a pedal that routinely fetches thousands on the resale market.
But Klon claims this particular clone crossed a legal and ethical line. The complaint highlights Behringer’s use of the same gold metal casing, centaur logo, and prominent “CENTAUR” wordmark in identical font and colour – with no Behringer branding on the faceplate unlike the firm’s usual releases.
The suit alleges Behringer not only copied the look and branding of the Centaur, but deliberately misled consumers by using Klon founder Bill Finnegan’s “name and likeness” in promotional materials without consent.
A particular point of contention is a YouTube video released by Behringer that, according to the complaint, “extensively discusses” the original Centaur while “deceptively and continuously” displaying Behringer’s pedal in a way that suggests an official connection.
Per court documents, “consumers expressed extensive actual confusion… with many rushing to purchase Defendants’ counterfeit pedal believing Defendants are delivering on a mass scale a discounted product licensed or endorsed by Plaintiffs.”
“Defendants’ conduct goes far beyond the line of permissible inspiration versus unlawful copying, and it has all been done for a quick and easy buck, the very opposite of what Plaintiffs and their famous Centaur pedal are all about,” the suit states.
While it’s not uncommon for third-party builders to take design cues from the Centaur, Klon argues that Music Tribe’s “cumulative assault” on its branding – including the use of the Centaur name, visual likeness, and references to founder Bill Finnegan – sets it apart from other Klon clones in the guitar pedal industry.
In a statement shared via Klon LLC’s official Instagram, Finnegan confirms the lawsuit and clarifies: “I have never been consulted in any way about this pedal, it has never been authorised by me, and I have never had any involvement whatsoever in its design, production, or marketing.”
Finnegan also adds that while he won’t comment further during the litigation, authentic Centaur units are still being sold through Klon’s official eBay channel under the seller ID “klondirectsales.”
At the time of writing, Behringer or Music Tribe have not publicly responded to the suit.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
