"Bill Finnegan asserts he hasn't provided any input or approval for this pedal; he claims it's unauthorized by him": Lawsuit filed by Finnegan against Behringer's parent company over Klon Centaur replica.
Taking the Music World by Storm – A Legal Battle Over Imitation
The man behind the coveted Klon Centaur, Bill Finnegan, is locking horns with Music Tribe, the parent company of Behringer, over the launch of their $69 Klon dupe named Centaur Overdrive. Finnegan, whose pedal is arguably the most craved overdrive pedal worldwide, recently filed a lawsuit in the Massachusetts district court on May 30, 2025, asserting that Music Tribe's actions exploded beyond the bounds of permissible inspiration, crossing the line into unlawful copying.
A Clone with a Catch
Behringer, who introduced the Centaur Overdrive in November 2024, boasted it as an exact replica of Finnegan’s pedal. The gold enclosure bearing the iconic centaur symbol on the front is a carbon copy of the original Klon, but without the Behringer logo conspicuously missing from the front. Instead, it's located on the unit's top above the input/output jacks.
Money for Nothing
Finnegan's lawsuit lists several claims against Behringer, including trademark and trade dress infringement, false advertising, and false designation of origin. You might wonder why the fuss when someone copies his circuit! However, Finnegan's concern escalates when he accuses Behringer of misappropriating his original product's reputation without his endorsement or involvement during the design, production, or marketing process.
The Digital Courtroom
A transcript of Behringer’s promotional YouTube video for the Centaur Overdrive serves as Exhibit A in Finnegan's case. In this video, Finnegan is explicitly mentioned, and the original Klon Centaur is showcased.
Strangers in the Night
Finnegan took to Instagram to explain his reasons for taking legal action. According to him, he has never had contact with Behringer about their Centaur Overdrive. He clarified that no authorization was given for the production of the knockoff pedal.
Reputation Matters
This legal row between Finnegan and Behringer marks a significant chapter in a series of controversies surrounding Behringer's product line. Earlier, Musitronics accused Behringer of copying their products, and Roger Linn lamented the launch of LM Drum, a replica of Linn's iconic LinnDrum drum machine. These instances highlight the continuous challenge of safeguarding intellectual property within the music equipment industry.
As the lawsuit progresses, the music world eagerly awaits the outcome, which could potentially alter the landscape of product design and branding in the industry.
The lawsuit filed by Bill Finnegan against Behringer threatens to disrupt the entertainment industry, as the outcome could set a precedent for product design and branding in the music equipment sector. Attorney's use a Behringer promotional YouTube video, featuring the original Klon Centaur, as Exhibit A in Finnegan's case, demonstrating the leveraging of digital platforms to contest intellectual property infringement within entertainment.
