It's not that simple. IP protection requires that the holder takes prompt action when there is a breach.
Gibson have decided to take action about 40 years too late.
They already lost against PRS when their own lawyer admitted that only an idiot would confuse them at the point of sale.
At the moment the decisions of the courts in the US basically says that the headstock is protected but the rest isn't, and Gibson just lost the copyright on the Flying V in the EU as well.
In their main action against Dean, Gibson have gone further and claimed that Dean are actually trying to pass themselves off as Gibson products. That might be the most stupid idea I've ever heard.
I've also never played a Dean that was as variable in quality as a Gibson.
The genie is well and truly out of the bottle.
Philips lost the rotating / circular razor copyright, and Lego lost their brick / connection design when they tried to stop "compatible" products being on sale.
I can well imagine this being a massive own goal with the Courts confirming explicitly that there is no copyright in a guitar apart from the headstock. Then all the makers who have already shifted to a tweaked design may go back to making the older shapes again.
Gibsons are getting more expensive by the minute, and the competition are cheaper and often better built. They need to concentrate on making a good and value for money product again.