A second jury has ruled against Dean Guitars in Gibson's trademark infringement case, finding Dean's parent company Armadillo guilty of infringing on Gibson's V, Explorer, and SG body shape trademarks, along with their Hummingbird wordmark.

Key Findings:

• Armadillo found guilty of trademark infringement and counterfeiting Gibson's designs
• Gibson's ES body shape trademark declared generic and should be cancelled
• Unlike the 2022 ruling, Armadillo now cleared of Dove Wing headstock infringement but found guilty of Flying V wordmark violation
• Jury determined Gibson waited too long to pursue infringement claims, creating "undue prejudice"

Financial Impact:

• Previous 2022 ruling ordered Dean to cease marketing infringing products
• Dean was ordered to pay $4,000 in damages and $160,000 in Gibson's legal fees
• New judgment amount pending

Gibson's Response: "This case was about protecting Gibson's legacy of innovation and its intellectual property," the company stated, emphasizing the importance of protecting American innovation and music evolution rather than financial compensation.

The verdict validates Gibson's intellectual property rights while highlighting the complexity of long-standing trademark disputes in the musical instrument industry. Despite the mixed ruling, Gibson maintains their guitar shapes, including the Flying V, Explorer, and SG, remain protected trademarks.

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