What's the story on this?

[Dennisthe Menace]

OK Kids, are you ready for this one?!?!?!?!?
http://swingscience.biz/english.html

[MaxTib]

How depressing.

[arpsum]

As you know, around 1991, Semie used 'Gospel' brand instead of 'Mosrite' for his guitars sold in USA. That fact explains who has (had) the rights of Mosrite. At least, Mosrite guitars must not come from other countries.

[dubtrub]

I think where the disappointment comes into play, is that in Loretta's speech on the video, plus the website title "Mosrite US", led people to believe that they were again going to be made in the USA.

Although it was a let down, I think most folks would just be happy to have Mosrite's available no matter where they are made.

Arpsum, do you have any knowledge about these new Mosrite's? Where are they made, and when will they be available for American buyers? Any idea of who in the USA will be the distributor and what the approximate selling price will be?

Any information would be gratefully appreciated.

[dubtrub]

As you know, new Mosrite guitars seem to come from another country. I have many information about that and I think I had better come back here and send the correct information to you.

Arpsum, you made the above statement in the Introduction forum, can you please tell us the information you are referring to.

Any information would be gratefully appreciated.

As we wait patiently.

[arpsum]

Hi all, I'm so busy now that I'll send a few info about Loretta's Mosrite. First of all, she has not the rights of trademark of Mosrite. In fact, she was Semie's wife. But Semie assigned the entire interest and the goodwill of 'Mosrite' to some people in Jul.1990. Loretta was just assigned the last will and testament in Mar.1993. So you can make sense why Semie used 'Gospel' brand instead of Mosrite around 1991. You can see the details about this matter at the database of USPTO's website.

Even in Japan, no one can see the Loretta's Mosrite now. At least, they seem to have some samples, but everyone knows those are made in China, so they wish they could sell them at expensive price, but they can't do so. Maybe they're at a loss about pricing. Besides, in Japan, the counterfeit product becomes huge problem in these days. When it comes to selling those guitars as MIU, they would be strongly abused by many people.

As someone mentioned here, Kurokumo is in charge of neck and body making. Maybe Kurokumo was told to help Loretta by Taiwanese company, or Kurokumo will be taken to court for making counterfeit Mosrite in Japan wituout permission for long years.

I'll post next one soon, please wait.

[dubtrub]

Thanks, Arpsum,

We'll be looking forward to the next installment.

[Dennisthe Menace]

Arpsum, very interesting info.

[dubtrub]

Legal mumbo jumbo for your reading pleasure. Basically the opening and last paragraph is all you need to read. Remember, this was after Semie's death in '92.

http://www.uspto.gov/web/offices/com/so ... 122612.pdf

[MWaldorf]

Interesting reading. So I gather in the legal briefing that "applicant" is Fillmore or a related entity and "opposer" is Loretta Moseley, Kamakura (Excellent) or a related entity? I assume the third party with previous use of the mark would be Semie Moseley?

What I find most interesting about this is that this legal wrangling appears to have started in 1998, six years after Semie's death. How much longer after Semie's passing did the US Mosrite factory exist? Was it a matter of months or a couple of years?