I mean if we're all honest here, almost every other brand of electric guitar maker has pretty much copied Gibson and Fender. And Gibson has copied other guitar makers before it. So what. There's enough market for everyone out there. I don't care one way or another really. And Dean pretty much did flat out copy Gibson. Let's be honest on that. But again, so what.
If Gibson really wants to go after other brands so to speak, then start making more affordable entry level models that compete with those brands. One's that compete on the same level as them. And Epiphone doesn't count as entry level Gibsons. People that want a Gibson don't want the headstock to read Epiphone on it. Make the headstock have the epiphone headstock shape but just read Gibson on it. They can still be made over seas, and that headstock shape could be a way to tell the cheaper models from the more high end USA models. Also obviously make them come with cheaper pickups and electronics like the Epiphones already do. They could be made in the same factories as Epiphone. They could even still make the Epiphone brand, and just have the entry level Gibsons be a slight step above them and cost slightly more than the Epiphone models. Basically if you want the name then pay a little more type thing. I guarantee you it would boost their sales.