Gibson Guitar reaches agreement in ebony investigation

"This week the Gibson Guitar Corporation resolved a criminal investigation into whether it had bought ebony boards illegally imported from Madagascar, in order to make fretboards. The US Department of Justice, which investigated the allegation, has now reached an agreement with Gibson, in which the firm acknowledges that it failed to act on information that the ebony may have violated the Lacey Act. This forbids imports of wood that are in violation of the laws of the exporting country. Gibson, of Nashville, Tennessee, is now required to pay a penalty of $300,000 as well as $50,000 to the US National Fish and Wildlife Service to promote conservation of protected trees. It will also forfeit some wood seized in the investigation, worth $261,844. Gibson says it was "inappropriately targeted" but reached agreement in order to avoid an expensive court case. "By Andy Coghlan / NS