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National Trust for Scotland backs down in 'Glencoe' trademark row | National Trust for Scotland backs down in 'Glencoe' trademark row |
(about 9 hours later) | |
The National Trust for Scotland has backed down in a dispute over the name of jacket sold by an Aberdeenshire clothing firm. | The National Trust for Scotland has backed down in a dispute over the name of jacket sold by an Aberdeenshire clothing firm. |
The charity has admitted it "got it wrong" when its lawyers wrote to Hilltrek Outdoor Clothing demanding they stop selling their Glencoe jacket. | The charity has admitted it "got it wrong" when its lawyers wrote to Hilltrek Outdoor Clothing demanding they stop selling their Glencoe jacket. |
NTS owns Glencoe and holds the trademark for its name. | NTS owns Glencoe and holds the trademark for its name. |
However, NTS said there would be no restriction on Hilltreck using the name for its product. | However, NTS said there would be no restriction on Hilltreck using the name for its product. |
The trust's director of customer and cause, Mark Bishop, said they did not want the trademark to affect established businesses with local products. | The trust's director of customer and cause, Mark Bishop, said they did not want the trademark to affect established businesses with local products. |
"On this occasion, we got it wrong," he said. | "On this occasion, we got it wrong," he said. |
"If we had done our homework on Hilltrek before our lawyers contacted them, it would have been clear that this was a Scottish company which has been manufacturing this product with this name for a number of years. | "If we had done our homework on Hilltrek before our lawyers contacted them, it would have been clear that this was a Scottish company which has been manufacturing this product with this name for a number of years. |
"Our first response would then have been to come to a mutual agreement over the issue, which is what we have now achieved. | "Our first response would then have been to come to a mutual agreement over the issue, which is what we have now achieved. |
"I am pleased to say that there will be no restriction on Hilltrek continuing to use Glencoe as before as the name of this product line. | "I am pleased to say that there will be no restriction on Hilltrek continuing to use Glencoe as before as the name of this product line. |
"There is much we have in common as we both appeal to people who love Scotland's magnificent wild lands and this is something we want to focus on together." | "There is much we have in common as we both appeal to people who love Scotland's magnificent wild lands and this is something we want to focus on together." |
Dave Shand, who owns Aboyne-based Hilltrek, had described the letter he received from NTS lawyers as "bullying and threatening". | Dave Shand, who owns Aboyne-based Hilltrek, had described the letter he received from NTS lawyers as "bullying and threatening". |
But he has now shaken hands with Mr Bishop on an agreement with the NTS. | But he has now shaken hands with Mr Bishop on an agreement with the NTS. |
Mr Shand said: "I am delighted that we were able to come to an agreement so quickly and that Hilltrek will continue to sell our high-quality Glencoe jackets. | Mr Shand said: "I am delighted that we were able to come to an agreement so quickly and that Hilltrek will continue to sell our high-quality Glencoe jackets. |
"As I have said before, the National Trust for Scotland does a lot of good work protecting and caring for the places our customers enjoy. | "As I have said before, the National Trust for Scotland does a lot of good work protecting and caring for the places our customers enjoy. |
"I urge people to go on supporting the charity and the work they do." | "I urge people to go on supporting the charity and the work they do." |
The NTS said it felt it had no option but to trademark place names, when it emerged that a third party could trademark their properties. | |
Mr Bishop added: "This means that anyone from any nation may be able to trademark our properties, quite possibly in connection with a product we don't want to be associated with. | Mr Bishop added: "This means that anyone from any nation may be able to trademark our properties, quite possibly in connection with a product we don't want to be associated with. |
"If the authorities across the UK and Europe, and the politicians they answer to, want to review the decision to allow place-names to be trademarked, we would wholeheartedly support this." | "If the authorities across the UK and Europe, and the politicians they answer to, want to review the decision to allow place-names to be trademarked, we would wholeheartedly support this." |
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