Gibson Wins Costs but Not Attorney Fees in Guitar Trademark Case

Gibson Brands Inc. was granted $158,000 in costs but no attorneys fees in a trademark case following a $4,000 jury verdict over Dean Guitar’s counterfeiting of its guitar designs.

A “lack of basic documentation” sank Gibson’s attorney fee request, but the guitar-maker sufficiently validated its costs, Eastern District of Texas Judge Amos L. Mazzant said. The Tuesday ruling came five days after the court rejected a bid by Dean parent Armadillo Distribution Enterprises Inc. to reverse or alter the judgment or get a new trial.

The Lanham Act mandates that a party that prevails on trademark counterfeiting claim “shall” be …