KKR-Owned Gibson Sued Over Trademark Threats to Guitar Maker (1)

Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co.-owned Gibson Brands Inc. was sued by another guitar maker in Michigan federal court in response to Gibson’s alleged threats based on its guitar-design trademarks.

Heritage Guitar Inc. said Friday that it and Gibson sold their respective guitars under a 1991 settlement agreement “with no problems or issues” until the New York private equity firm bought Gibson.

Heritage was founded by former employees of Gibson’s Michigan factory who chose to stay when the company moved to Tennessee. Gibson sued Heritage in 1990 for allegedly infringing Gibson trademarks covering its guitar designs. The dispute was settled ...