Gibson vs. Dean verdict

[Dave W]

DEAN GUILTY OF TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT AND COUNTERFEITING IN GIBSON FLYING V CASE

[morrow]

I wonder if this will have any effect on the Chibsons becoming more and more common . I never had much difficulty identifying a Dean , or a Hammer . Some are blatant forgeries , stamped "Made in the USA".

[Dave W]

I wonder if this will have any effect on the Chibsons becoming more and more common . I never had much difficulty identifying a Dean , or a Hammer . Some are blatant forgeries , stamped "Made in the USA".

I doubt it. Counterfeits are a different issue. Deans are clearly labeled, they've never tried to claim that they're Gibsons.

[BTL]

$4,000 award. The ES decision intrigues me the most.

[Chris P.]

I got this e-mail:

SUBJECT LINE: Dean Guitars Wins Defense to Gibson Trademark Claims
BODY:
In response to today's jury verdict, Armadillo CEO Evan Rubinson issued this statement:
?"We are thrilled that a Texas jury has vindicated Armadillo in ruling for Armadillo on its defense to Gibson's trademark claims on our Dean V guitar, Dean Z guitar, and Evo headstock.  The jury found that Armadillo is not liable to Gibson for our long use of those guitars and headstock.  The jury issued a judgment in the amount of $4000, a mere fraction of the $7 million plus originally sought by Gibson."

[uwe]

Isn't it a bit late to go after Dean for being undoubtedly inspired by the more heavy metal guitar shapes of Gibson? They've been doing that for decades and I always thought it was more of a homage than anything - even in times when Gibson seemed itself to have forgotten about these shapes and only intent on making - yawn! - Les Pauls. Nobody who wants a Gibson will buy a Dean and vice versa - the Dean headstock is a visual brand exclamation mark proudly, even garishly identifying their products even from a distance.

I never thought Ric played a Gibson here ...



My favorite The Cars song - with a PROGish odd several-meters-over-another verse, Herr Heslin! (The rhythm section does 5/4, everyone else 4/4, possibly a rehearsal accident and they stuck with it because it sounded interesting.  )

Don't think that Gibson will regain him as an endorser by this.

[gearHed289]

My favorite The Cars song - with a PROGish odd several-meters-over-another verse, Herr Heslin! (The rhythm section does 5/4, everyone else 4/4, possibly a rehearsal accident and they stuck with it because it sounded interesting.  )

Ha, yeah, I like that tune too. You can see Greg Hawkes counting 1, 2, 3, 4 on his fingers during the verse. 

[uwe]

Good guy, he wants to join the compelling rhythm section!

A lovely man, even if usually accustomed to more conventional meters.