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Gibson opposes Collings’ headstock trademark registration, citing a “likelihood of confusion”

Gibson claims the headstock shape trademark, which Collings filed for last year, will “impair the distinctiveness” of three of its own trademarks.

Collings at Houlgate

Collings 290 DC S

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A Collings filing to register its headstock shape as a trademark has been opposed by Gibson, citing a “likelihood of confusion” between the brands’ headstock designs, and “dilution” of its own trademarked headstock designs.

Collings began the process of trademarking its headstock in April 2019, with the window for opposition opening on 18 February 2020.

On 17 June 2020, Gibson filed an opposition to Collings’ headstock trademark. This dispute begins by citing three of Gibson’s own trademarks, which are all currently active. The Dove Wing design, the 1939 Epiphone headstock and the 1963 Epiphone headstock are all cited, with the document describing the trio as part of Gibson’s “family of distinctive headstock designs”.

Gibson argues that these headstock designs have been used for “commerce in the United States continuously since at least as early as 1922 in connection with the manufacture, distribution, promotion, advertising, and sale” of its musical instruments. It continues, arguing that these headstock designs are “distinctive to both the consuming public” and to the musical instrument trade.

The opposition also contends that Gibson’s trademarks have priority over Collings because Gibson’s “use and registration dates predate the Applicant’s [Collings’] alleged date of first use or any other date on which the Applicant may rely for purposes of priority.”

The disputed headstock outlines
Collings’ disputed headstock trademark (far left), beside the three Gibson’s trademarks the brand cites

Two separate grounds for opposition are then given. Firstly, a ‘likelihood of confusion’ – that is, as Collings’ and Gibson’s headstocks “are of similar types, are offered or may be offered through the same, […] channels of trade, to the same […] classes of purchasers and are or may be advertised, marketed and promoted through the same media channels,” Gibson argues the similarity is strong enough to cause “confusion, mistake, or deception” between the brands.

The second ground for opposition is ‘dilution’. The argument made here is that registering Collings’ headstock as a trademark “would be likely to impair the distinctiveness, and cause dilution by blurring” of Gibson’s most notable headstock designs.

The opposition is the latest in a series of legal moves by Gibson against other brands. Most recently, it began action against Satellite Amplifiers over the Coronet trademark. Earlier this year, it sent a cease and desist to Kiesel Guitars over its Ultra V and California Single models.

Gibson’s various legal challenges also follow the infamous Play Authentic controversy, and its ongoing copyright infringement lawsuit against Dean and Luna owner Armadillo Inc in 2019.

In the last year, however, Gibson has claimed that it wants to move “from confrontation to collaboration” with other builders, and when we spoke to Gibson CMO Cesar Gueikian before NAMM 2020, he reiterated the brand’s desire to move past its legacy of legal disputes.

“We inherited, from the previous owners, a legacy of confrontation and litigation, which we have essentially now been putting to bed,” he said. “There are literally just one or two situations that we haven’t been able to resolve amicably, and not because of a lack of intention on our side. But everything else, why not collaborate with those who are doing really cool things?”

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