The hits just keep coming for Dean this year. Back in May, Dean lost a lawsuit filed by Gibson for infringement upon Gibson’s Flying V, Explorer, ES and SG body shapes; on their “Dove Wing” headstock design; and both the the “Hummingbird” name and the “Moderne” trademark. Armadillo countersued in 2020, saying Gibson was engaging in “tortious interference with Armadillo’s business relationships and/or contracts.”
Now in a second loss for Dean, the company cannot make, advertise, or sell any guitars that infringe upon Gibson’s ES, SG, Flying V and Explorer trademarks or Hummingbird wordmark. This means the Dean Luna Athena 501, Gran Sport, V and Z models are all now out of the question.
“Gibson is once again very pleased with the outcome after years of simply trying to protect [its] brand and business through well-recognized intellectual property rights, rights that have been Gibson’s for decades,” said Gibson.
“Gibson’s guitar shapes are iconic and now are firmly protected for the past, present and future. From a broader perspective, this court decision is also a win for Gibson fans, artists and dealers.
“Not to mention for all of the iconic American brands that have invested in meaningful innovation and continued protection, only to see it diluted with unauthorized and often illegitimate knockoffs. Gibson can now focus attention on continuing to leverage its iconic past, and invest in future innovation, with confidence.”
You can see a lot of the now-illegal models below.
