A BATTLE FOR OUR HERITAGE
NTS under fire over decision to trademark names including Culloden and Bannockburn
A TRADEMARK row over some of Scotland’s most treasured places deepened yesterday as the National Trust confirmed they own the names Culloden and Battle of Bannockburn.
The National Trust for Scotland were forced to backtrack at the weekend after they warned a Deeside clothing manufacturer to stop using the name Glencoe for one of their long-running jacket lines because NTS had registered the trademark.
The NTS later admitted the letter, posted on social media by Hilltrek, had “too harsh a tone” but have defended their move to trademark the names of many of their sites in recent years, saying it is protecting them for the future.
The trust yesterday confirmed they now hold trademarks for the Battle of Bannockburn, Glenfinnan, Glencoe and Culloden, as well as jointly owning the trademark for St Kilda with the Western Isles Council.
Trish Robertson, a Lib Dem member of Highland Council who represents the Culloden area, branded the trademarking of the site’s name “absolutely ridiculous” and said it was a threat to local businesses.
She said: “Culloden is more than just a battlefield. It is a community with many businesses using the name.
“We have managed quite well without this for many years.” A Falkirk history group have also slammed the decision.
A spokesman for The Society of John De Graeme, who celebrate the comrade of William Wallace, said: “The historic culture of Scotland belongs to the people. The sites operated by NTS are there to preserve the historic heritage, not to commercialise it.
“The society are clear – our culture, heritage and history are not for sale and the commercialisation of Scotland’s most iconic historical sites is shocking.” Mark Bishop, director of customer and cause for NTS, said the trademark move came after a dispute with Western Isles Council over the rights to St Kilda’s name in 2010.
He said: “There was a clear opening to some third parties to use the names for their own purposes. It’s not just about money, though it takes a lot to conserve places like Glencoe. “If third parties selling dubious products are associated with our properties, this still reflects on us even if they have no links to us or these places whatsoever.
“Very much against our will, we have had to take defensive measures and begin registering trademarks.
“We have never had any intention of undermining established and new businesses trading locally to our registered properties, and we have gone out of our way to ensure they can continue trading without interruption or cost. We have kept that promise.”
The commercialisation of our iconic historical sites is shocking SOCIETY OF JOHN DE GRAEME SPOKESMAN