3 Count: Fender Bender

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1: Fender Escalates Stratocaster Copyright Fight, Taking Aim at Yamaha

First off today, Nathan Gomes, Nandan Mandayam and Stephen Nellis at Reuters report that the guitar maker Fender has sent a cease and desist letter to the Japanese company Yamaha, claiming that the certain models of its guitars infringe on Fender’s copyright.

Back in March, a German court found that the shape of the Fender Stratocaster guitar was protected by copyright. Following that decision, Fender has been on an aggressive campaign, sending letters to various companies, claiming that they need to stop selling similar guitars in the EU region or face legal action.

However, most of the parties targeted were small companies. One of those companies, Thomann, a German retailer, has countersued Fender, saying that the Stratocaster shape is generic. However, the claim against Yamaha represents a major escalation in the campaign, targeting one of the largest guitar manufacturers in the world.

2: Copyright Office Will Increase Photo Registration Cost by 55% in 120 Days

Next up today, Jaron Schneider at PetaPixel reports that the United States Copyright Office (USCO) has notified Congress that it plans to move ahead with a proposed rate increase for copyright registrations, including a 55% increase in the cost to register a group of photographs.

In March, the USCO released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking that would see it raise the cost to register works with the office. Many rights holders fought back against the proposed rate increase, saying that they would be burdensome and would make it harder for creators to protect their works.

However, in the recent letter, the USCO said it is moving forward with the proposed rate increases. They will take effect in 120 days, meaning they will take effect in mid-November.

3: ‘Skibidi Toilet’ Studio Prevails in Copyright Fight Over Multimillion-Dollar IP

Finally today, Margaret Attridge at Courthouse News Service reports that studio behind the internet phenomenon Skibidi Toilet has prevailed in dispute with Dubai-based tech company Next Level Apps Technology in a fight over the copyright of the character.

The company, Invisible Narratives, sued Next Level Apps Technology in February 2025. Next Level had filed a series of copyright registrations and was threatening copyright strikes against Invisible Narratives’ YouTube channel. The case was headed for a trial later this year, but has been settled out of court.

Under the settlement, Next Level will void 20 copyright registrations and agree that Invisible Narratives owns Skibidi Toilet. Both sides have also agreed to dismiss the case with prejudice.

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