Clothing firm wins legal battle over Glencoe name
A SMALL outdoors business has won its battle with the National Trust for Scotland (NTS) over the use of the name Glencoe.
The conservation charity was accused of “bullying” after threatening Aboyne-based Hilltrek Outdoor Clothing with legal action earlier this month.
A letter issued to owner Dave Shand demanded that the company stop selling its Glencoe waterproof jacket immediately as NTS was the owner of the Glencoe trademark.
The backlash that ensued included many NTS members threatening to cancel their membership.
The charity has now admitted that it was “wrong” to target the business and has recognised its prior rights to use the name for the jacket.
Customer director Mark Bishop said: “When we first took action to protect our properties and the Trust through the application of trademarks, our intention was always to ensure that this protection also sheltered local businesses and communities from exploitative or inappropriate use of the names in question.
“We were always clear that we did not see the trademarks having any effect whatsoever on established businesses with local products.
“On this occasion, we got it wrong. 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.”
Mr Shand said he was “delighted” an agreement had been reached so quickly and the company could continue to sell the jacket.