I'm generally not cool with the use of unofficial Fender decals and stuff, but I have had cause to use one in the past - In a fit of madness several years ago, I stripped all the finish of my mid 80's Japanese hardtail Strat's neck with the intent of doing some form of custom paint job.

Never happened, and I was left with a nameless Fender for a few years. Went about things the right way and contacted Fender, to be told that the correct decals for my guitar were simply unavailable!

So, went with a small UK custom decal company who did a superb job, and now everything is as good as it left the factory and my Fender is once again a Fender.

The whole process felt a bit like trying to buy some dodgy porn from a shady guy in the pub though. "Sooo, you wanna buy some 'decals'? Nudge nudge, wink wink, say no more..!"

You're a clueless fanboy. Read the above.

What IS illegal is to pass off Warmoth parts, ala trying to sell a completed instrument as un-altered Fender factory (OEM) instrument.

You people kill me. Learn about WTF you're talking about before you start spreading FUD.

"Barracks Lawyers" There's a term I haven't heard in a bit. Military?

So what is going to get the lawyers chasing people then?

Mass produced fake copies intended for massive profit like the type made in China- or the amatuer hobbyist making his dream guitar in a back yard shed?

If outside North America is off limits- then ...is it really illegal outside the US/Canada then? Not saying, but technically that means anywhere else you can get away with it. Which explains why China seems to have an abundance of badly copied start counterfeits- no lawyer can touch the people who do it? International trademark could be a different kettle of fish altogether...

Or am I just reading too far into it.