Trump Guitars backs down after Gibson cease and desist warning – alters body shapes and adds website disclaimer
Trump Guitars has made some changes to its models and its website since being delivered a cease and desist order from Gibson.
The company produces Donald Trump-, MAGA-inspired instruments, some of which are priced at five-figure sums. The guitars are endorsed by Trump himself, with images of the 45th (and soon-to-be 47th) president holding them featured on its site. The website also claims to be “veteran-owned”.
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Gibson had taken issue is with the brand’s single-cut electric American Eagle and Presidential series models, which it believed infringed upon its trademarks and the Les Paul design. On 25 November, Gibson confirmed it had issued a cease and desist order to Trump Guitars owner, 16 Creative. In a statement shared with Guitar World, the brand said, “We can confirm a cease and desist has been issued against 16 Creative as the design infringes upon Gibson’s exclusive trademarks, particularly the iconic Les Paul body shape.”
In response, the Trump Guitars website has since shared new images of its Presidential series, which show some slight differences in design.
Other guitars from the American Eagle range have seemingly now “sold out”, and a big banner displaying this now covers these designs entirely. A photo which formerly showed Trump signing the electric version of the American Eagle model also appears to have been photoshopped, and now shows a close up of the acoustic version of the model beneath his hands instead.
Furthermore, the website now displays the following disclaimer in several spots on its website: “GetTrumpGuitars.com is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with Gibson Brands Inc., or any of its subsidiaries or its affiliates, nor does it represent itself as a dealer, manufacturer, or distributor of Gibson, Les Paul Standard, Les Paul Custom, or any of their products.”
The remaining electric models on site are all made with mahogany bodies and necks, and feature a rosewood fretboard with a MAGA inlay, and are fitted with “Maga 45 Trumpbuckers”. Most models are available in limited quantities.
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Source: www.guitar-bass.net
