The months-long legal battle over one of the guitar world’s most famous overdrive pedals has reached a definitive end. Bill Finnegan, the inventor of the legendary Klon Centaur overdrive, has dismissed his lawsuit against Music Tribe, the parent company of budget gear giant Behringer, over their highly-publicized $69 Klon copycat pedal.
A court filing dated September 29th in the District Court of Massachusetts officially ended the dispute. The case was dismissed with prejudice, meaning Finnegan is barred from refiling the same claims against Behringer’s parent company, Music Tribe, at a later date. The dismissal was granted without costs to either party.
What Triggered the Resolution?
Finnegan’s initial complaint, filed in May, centered on Behringer’s release of the Centaur Overdrive pedal in late 2024. The pedal, a strikingly affordable clone of the iconic Klon Centaur, drew immediate attention and criticism for its similar aesthetics and name, raising questions about trade dress and intellectual property in the guitar effects market.
The resolution appears to stem from a series of design revisions and name changes made by Behringer following the lawsuit. Originally launched as the “Centaur Overdrive,” the pedal went through a quick succession of branding updates:
- It was first renamed the Centara.
- It was then subsequently rebranded as the Zentara.
- The original graphic—a centaur with a Caesar cut and a sword—was changed to a long-haired centaur brandishing a spear.
- The Behringer name, which was initially absent, was added to the front of the enclosure.
While the pedal maintains its signature gold enclosure and oxblood-colored knobs—leaving little doubt as to its inspiration—it seems these key revisions were enough to satisfy Finnegan and prompt the dismissal of his legal action.
The Ethics of the Klone Market
The lawsuit provides a compelling case study on the fine line between circuit copying and infringing on a product’s overall appearance.
While the effects pedal market is saturated with “klones,” Tube Screamer copies, Big Muff-style pedals, and countless others, it is generally accepted that the electronic circuits themselves offer little in the way of legal protection.
Trade Dress
However, trade dress—which protects the overall visual image and unique packaging of a product—is a different matter. Finnegan’s initial complaint suggested that Behringer’s original design had gone “too far” in mirroring the Klon’s aesthetics. The subsequent name and graphic changes by Behringer strongly imply that Finnegan’s concern about the pedal’s visual presentation had merit.
The dismissal of the lawsuit, following Behringer’s quiet but clear design modifications, marks a quiet victory for the original Klon inventor and provides a clearer boundary for manufacturers navigating the increasingly crowded and competitive world of effects pedal design.
Behringer Zentara Overdrive at Andertons
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#Behringer #Klon Centaur
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