Gibson loses Firebird body shape trademark in EU court battle

Gibson Firebird
(Image credit: Future)

Gibson has suffered another defeat in its quest to secure trademarks for its body shapes in the European Union: after losing the trademark for the Flying V shape back in June, the company has now had its mark for the Firebird shape cancelled, too.

According to Guitar.com, the Cancellation Division of the EU Intellectual Property Office came to a similar conclusion regarding the Firebird as the Flying V, claiming it “does not consider this to be significantly different from the normal style of electric guitars”.

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Michael Astley-Brown
Editor-in-Chief, GuitarWorld.com

Mike is Editor-in-Chief of GuitarWorld.com, in addition to being an offset fiend and recovering pedal addict. He has a master's degree in journalism from Cardiff University, and over a decade's experience writing and editing for guitar publications including MusicRadar, Total Guitar and Guitarist, as well as 20 years of recording and live experience in original and function bands. During his career, he has interviewed the likes of John Frusciante, Chris Cornell, Tom Morello, Matt Bellamy, Kirk Hammett, Jerry Cantrell, Joe Satriani, Tom DeLonge, Ed O'Brien, Polyphia, Tosin Abasi, Yvette Young and many more. In his free time, you'll find him making progressive instrumental rock under the nom de plume Maebe.