Heritage Suing Gibson

**lawson-stone** · 03-14-2020, 11:54 AM

This is an interesting switch:

Heritage Sues Gibson

**Flat** · 03-14-2020, 02:45 PM

I have a 575 and 535 and really like the way Heritage does things, so I am kinda' rooting for them, but in truth I am not sure what is fair and just in this lawsuit.

Man, ain't this a beautiful finish? Heritage H-150.

Heritage Suing Gibson-heritage-artisan-aged-h-150@1400x1050-696x522-jpg

Heritage Suing Gibson-heritage-artisan-aged-h-150@1400x1050-696x522-jpg

**Doug B** · 03-14-2020, 02:54 PM

Gibson is only suing because Heritage makes better quality guitars.

Who is Gibson going to sue next? Eastman? Collins? Other?

**neatomic** · 03-14-2020, 03:50 PM

the real shame is that its easier for gibson to go after long time larger manufacturers who play by the books, like heritage and dean, than it is to go after the myriad of less transparent asian makers who are flooding the market with garbage gibsony fakes...chibson!

cheers

**mr. beaumont** · 03-14-2020, 03:56 PM

From what I understand, Gibson and Heritage came to a legal agreement in 1991, and now Gibson wants to renege, and is threatening Heritage.

**citizenk74** · 03-14-2020, 04:27 PM

I'm a Gibson guy, always have been. I own, and have owned, several. But this sort of thing leaves a bad taste in my mouth. This whole mess reminds me of why I dumped my KKR stock.

I hope sanity prevails.

**QAman** · 03-14-2020, 07:07 PM

They’ve coexisted for decades and I’m hopeful their arrangement will continue.

**lawson-stone** · 03-14-2020, 09:39 PM

Originally Posted by Doug B

Gibson is only suing because Heritage makes better quality guitars.

Who is Gibson going to sue next? Eastman? Collins? Other?

Actually it is Heritage that is suing Gibson

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

**fep** · 03-14-2020, 11:02 PM

Originally Posted by lawson-stone

Actually it is Heritage that is suing Gibson

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Technically that's true. But Gibson fired the first shot when they told Heritage they would sue them unless they ceased making the guitars in question while claiming trademark violations

**starjasmine** · 03-15-2020, 02:52 AM

Originally Posted by neatomic

the real shame is that its easier for gibson to go after long time larger manufacturers who play by the books, like heritage and dean, than it is to go after the myriad of less transparent asian makers who are flooding the market with garbage gibsony fakes...chibson!

cheers

Yea, eBay has *sponsored* ads like the one for a Chinese "2018 Top Quality Byrdland JAZZ Hollow Body Electric Guitar Sunburst Gold Hardware" at a NEW retail price tag of ... wait for it...US $319.90! "Sponsored" means that the seller paid eBay to feature the ad... and eBay took the money and gave the ad a bump in search results. Which is pathetic; essentially, they are willing participants in the scam.

**Woody Sound** · 03-15-2020, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by starjasmine

Yea, eBay has *sponsored* ads like the one for a Chinese "2018 Top Quality Byrdland JAZZ Hollow Body Electric Guitar Sunburst Gold Hardware" at a NEW retail price tag of ... wait for it...US $319.90! "Sponsored" means that the seller paid eBay to feature the ad... and eBay took the money and gave the ad a bump in search results. Which is pathetic; essentially, they are willing participants in the scam.

But those are kinda different. Whereas they are using the Byrdland name, the design is not really a close copy.

**lawson-stone** · 03-15-2020, 09:54 AM

Originally Posted by fep

Technically that's true. But Gibson fired the first shot when they told Heritage they would sue them unless they ceased making the guitars in question while claiming trademark violations

Yes, of course. Totally agree. I'm just OCD about individual facts. Gibson has not sued Heritage, but yes, has bullied and sought to intimidate Heritage in many ways and so they legitimately deserve being sued to cease and desist their harassment of Heritage.

**Doug B** · 03-15-2020, 10:51 AM

Originally Posted by lawson-stone

Actually it is Heritage that is suing Gibson

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Perhaps I should have said that Gibson is"pressuring" Heritage instead of "sueing " them.?

**guitarcarver** · 03-15-2020, 11:15 AM

Gibson should just concentrate on making consistently good guitars.

**LtKojak** · 03-15-2020, 11:33 AM

Originally Posted by guitarcarver

Gibson should just concentrate on making consistently good guitars.

Since McCarthy left Gibson, that's the only thing they have never, ever been able to do.

If you ask me, Heritage is the REAL Gibson company. The rest was just legal brand usurpation.

**vinnyv1k** · 03-15-2020, 12:19 PM

Well I must now eat my words : Come back Henry

**LtKojak** · 03-15-2020, 12:38 PM

Originally Posted by vinnyv1k

Well I must now eat my words : Come back Henry

Is he even alive? He must be close to hundred years old...

**jads57** · 03-15-2020, 12:45 PM

Marketing and Greed are the drivers here for Gibson. I'm sure they could really care less about Heritage as a threat. It's more that if they can ,why can't anybody else?
Maybe at the level of business they do they need to be concerned to keep it rolling. But I tend to agree with just make the best products and let the rest go.
Especially the whole branding merchandise coffee cups,etc.

**QAman** · 03-15-2020, 12:47 PM

Originally Posted by LtKojak

Is he even alive? He must be close to hundred years old...

Henry Edward Michael Juszkiewicz
Born - March 3, 1953 (age 67 years),

**corpse** · 03-15-2020, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by QAman

Henry Edward Michael Juszkiewicz
Born - March 3, 1953 (age 67 years),

lol

**skykomishone** · 03-15-2020, 01:39 PM

Intellectual property lawyer guitar player buddies, please don't be offended by this. But, Think of the money that both companies could invest in building wonderful archtops, instead of pissing it away on lawyers. Un-f-ing believable! It's like a circular firing squad.

**starjasmine** · 03-15-2020, 02:12 PM

Originally Posted by Woody Sound

But those are kinda different. Whereas they are using the Byrdland name, the design is not really a close copy.

That's what is particularly offensive to me. Heritage isn't trying to use Gibson's trademarks or designs. These guys are appropriating the name because they think it'll help to sell their crap guitars. And, who knows, maybe it does.

**QAman** · 03-15-2020, 02:29 PM

Gibsons response to Heritage lawsuit. It alledges that Heritage was not adhering to the agreement.

Gibson issues formal response to Heritage lawsuit - Guitar.com | All Things Guitar

Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk

**Flat** · 03-15-2020, 02:37 PM

"In 2016, Heritage Guitars was acquired by a real estate development group. In 2017, BandLab acquired a majority stake in Heritage Guitars that created a partnership consisting of a Singapore based conglomerate (run by the son of a billionaire) and the Chicago based real-estate group. In 2019, Heritage initiated conversations with Gibson centered around leveraging Gibson’s iconic site for broader commercial purposes, including the plans to convert the (Parsons Street, Kalamazoo) factory into a hotel. A meeting was held, but no further action was taken.

Recently, Heritage launched some new guitars that clearly did not respect, nor adhere to, the original contract. In fact, several customers had inquired if they were actually Gibson Guitars. Heritage Guitars also took the liberty of using language on their website that was misleading and misrepresenting, which added to the confusion."

Which new guitars are they talking about?