Gibson vs. Dean Guitars: The Legal Riff That Won’t End

The battle of the six-strings just hit another dramatic chord! In a saga that feels like it was ripped straight from the golden era of rock ‘n’ roll, a second jury has once again ruled against Dean Guitars’ parent company, Armadillo, for infringing on Gibson’s iconic designs. But before Gibson pops the champagne, there’s a twist—Armadillo has been slapped with a jaw-dropping… $11 in damages. Yes, eleven bucks. Less than the price of a guitar pick set at your local music shop.

Deja Vu in the Courtroom

Gibson’s long-running feud with Dean over legendary body shapes like the Flying V, Explorer, and SG has been rehashed once more, with the jury siding in favor of Gibson. However, this legal encore came with a wildcard: Gibson’s ES body shape trademark has been ruled too generic and is on the chopping block. If the judge enforces this ruling, it could change the landscape of guitar design forever.

Counterfeit Chaos & Legal Irony

The court found Armadillo guilty of both trademark infringement and counterfeiting, a serious blow to Dean’s V and Z models. But the jury also didn’t let Gibson off the hook completely, stating that they sat on their claims for too long, essentially letting Dean get away with it for decades before deciding to sue. The result? That hilarious $11 penalty—like handing out a participation trophy in a battle of titans. But don’t be fooled; last time around, the judge still made Armadillo pay nearly $300,000 in legal fees. A similar fate could be looming.

Gibson’s Legacy at a Crossroads

With the ES trademark declared generic since 1996, Gibson now faces an existential question: Can a guitar company own the right to a body shape so ingrained in music history? The outcome could have ripple effects far beyond this case, influencing competitors and boutique luthiers alike.

Gibson, of course, isn’t backing down, stating, “This case was about protecting Gibson’s legacy of innovation and intellectual property, not about money.” (Well, good thing, because $11 won’t even cover a pack of strings.) The company has vowed to appeal the ES verdict.

What’s Next?

The presiding judge will soon decide whether to enforce the jury’s ruling, which could mean the official axing of Dean’s most famous designs and potentially, the loss of Gibson’s ES body shape trademark. In 2022, a similar case led to Dean ceasing sales of the infringing models and paying out $160,000 in legal fees. Will history repeat itself? Or will this rock ‘n’ roll courtroom drama take yet another unexpected turn?

One thing is for sure: the guitar world is watching. And it’s playing out like the ultimate high-stakes solo.