ARTICLE · 09 APRIL 2025

Guitar Wars: Gibson v Dean

ENS

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The long-running trade mark infringement battle between Gibson Brands, Inc. vs. Armadillo Distribution Enterprises, Inc. (parent company of Dean Guitars).

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The long-running trade mark infringement battle between Gibson Brands, Inc. vs. Armadillo Distribution Enterprises, Inc. (parent company of Dean Guitars). The dispute has centred around Gibson's "Flying V", "Explorer", "ES" and "SG" body shape trade marks as well as the "Dove Wing Headstock" and a number of word marks. Gibson has a number of trade marks for the shape of some of its iconic guitars and has alleged that Dean has infringed those trade marks over a significant period of time. Some samples of the shape trade marks are shown below.

*Image credit: Author

Gibson was successful in the first case, which Dean appealed.

Second jury verdict

A second jury found Dean Guitars guilty of trade mark infringement and counterfeiting Gibson's V, Explorer, and SG body shapes, as well as the Hummingbird wordmark. However, the jury also ruled that Gibson's trade mark for its ES body shape is generic and should be cancelled. Anyone familiar with AC/DC's Angus

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