Gibson settles

[peter.coombe]

Gibson has settled the case with the US Dept of Justice. Looks to me like they decided better admit defeat and pay the fine or else risk massive legal bills. It resolves nothing.

http://www2.gibson.com/News-Lifestyle/F ... 8%2F7%2F12

Peter

[kiwigeo]

Isn't that the American way......hand over a bit of dosh and you're out of trouble. All fine for a big company like Gibson but what about a struggling one man operation who can barely make enough to cover the bills???

[simso]

Its interesting reading isnt it.

From what I gathered,, its illegal to export from madagasca ebony in an unfinished product (ebony blank), you have to buy the finished product, example fingerboard for it to be legal. I guess this supports there local manufacturing industry.

The company gibson bought the ebony from in germany, manipulated the system, they bought wood "finished as floor boards etc" and then reshipped them to america as something different, I also gather the german company did some mixing of legal and illegally acquired ebony in the mix.

So gibson in theory has clean hands, it sounds typical of all lawyers, manipulation of facts or systems to achieve the required outcome.

Is gibson guilty of manipulating the system, or were they unaware, does it really matter.

As I said interesting reading

Steve