Gibson Belatedly Wins Profits in Armadillo Guitar Trademark Case

Guitar seller Gibson Inc. convinced a judge to overrule a jury and award profits from Dean-branded infringement of guitar-shape trademarks.

Judge Amos L. Mazzant granted Gibson a permanent injunction against Armadillo Distribution Enterprises Inc. along with $168,000 in profits from infringing marks including the Flying V, Explorer, and SG guitar body shapes at the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. He noted the parties had agreed to the profit totals earned from each mark as he scrapped the jury’s restrained $1 award, but declined to treble them as Gibson requested.

The Monday ruling provides another mixed result ...