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Dimebag Darrell’s estate has issued a new statement in light of a recent court ruling that swung in favor of Dean Guitars owner, Armadillo Distribution Enterprises, amid the protracted legal battle between the two parties.
The late Pantera guitarist had designed two signature guitars, the Stealth and Razorback, in collaboration with Dean Guitars, using its ML model as their foundation. Dimebag’s employment of the guitars has made Dean’s X-shaped variants some of the most recognizable metal guitars on the planet.
Rita Haney, who was Dimebag’s longtime girlfriend and is now trustee of his estate, had sued Dean for “unauthorized fraudulent trademark registrations” regarding both guitars. She felt the guitars should be deemed as the intellectual property of the guitarist.
However, a court ruling in early May granted Dean a summary judgment that dismissed “the majority” of the Dimebag estate’s trademark, fraud, and breach of contract claims. Ultimately, that meant the guitars were deemed to be owned by Dean, not the In Dime We Trust estate, which Haney spearheads.
Now, a statement issued by In Dime We Trust states that it “respectfully disagrees with the Court’s ruling and believes the decision conflicts with the clear language contained in the agreement Darrell Abbott signed with Dean Guitars in 2004.”
The agreement was signed shortly before his death that same year. Dimebag had rekindled his relationship with Dean after a period with Washburn guitars, which resulted in the Razorback’s creation.
In Dime We Trust claims the signed agreement states “Dean “shall acquire no rights in the tradenames or designs Stealth Guitar or Razorback Guitar by virtue of this Agreement, and upon termination of this Agreement shall cease the production of Stealth and Razorback style guitars.”
“To the Trust, this language demonstrates Darrell Abbott’s clear understanding and intent that ownership and control of the Stealth and Razorback guitar designs would remain with him and would not transfer to Dean Guitars under the agreement,” it adds.
A Non-Disclosure Agreement, which the Trust states was “executed” two months before the wider agreement was signed, saw then Dean Guitars CEO Elliott Rubinson “acknowledge that the Razorback and Stealth guitar designs, along with the associated headstock designs, were created by Darrell Abbott.”
Put simply, the Trust is adamant that Dimebag “would never have signed away ownership of his designs,” believing “the documents clearly support that,” and that Dean “has repeatedly misrepresented the facts” regarding the matter.
It reiterates that “Dean Guitars did not make or sell a single Razorback nor Stealth before their formal relationship with Darrell... and in no way should they be allowed to make these guitars after the relationship was terminated.”
Consequently, Dimebag’s estate will appeal the court ruling.
“We continue to fight for the return of Darrell’s guitar designs as well as their unauthorized use of Darrell’s name, likeness, and intellectual property,” it says.
It will also pursue additional claims relating to Dean’s use of the “Dean From Hell” artwork, Dime’s number one guitar.
