Hands off our kilts: Scots bid to copyright their national dress

[Leprechaun 91]

Is it even really possible to make the distinction to the general public?

To most, any sparkling wine (which it must be legally called in the industry unless from Champagne) is still Champagne. It matters little what the French wish with regards to this. The general public still see it as Champagne regardless of region of production.

Is this not a similar problem we have with the kilt. There are "Proper Kilts" made by hand in Scotland of Worsted tartan wool, with 8+ yards, ETC. Then there are knife pleated 10oz tartan "kilts" produced in Pakistan. To the general, non kilt-wearking, public both are kilts. They see a man in a non bifurcated garment and call it a kilt. They neither know nor care about the distinction between the two.

Admoittedly, we might call these knock-off kilts "MUGs" and be more accurate but the "man on the street" is going to call it a kilt.

Bottom line?...

You can make whatever "legal" distinction you want but the general public - except those who are better informed - will call it a kilt if it resembles a kilt. It might effect import / export but I don't think it can be done.

What will the tourist traps do who are now making mllions each year peddling cheap MUGs from Pakistan and calling them kilts? (A totally diferent question.)

David

[WillowEstate]

Happy New Year, David.

It's not the term "kilt" that is being questioned, kilts of various sorts have been worn for centuries, if not millennia, depending on your definition and I'm not going to restart that debate! Nobody objects to calling sparkling wine "wine" - you just can't call it Champagne unless it comes from the Champagne region of France and the word "Champagne" doesn't appear on labels from elsewhere, unless you want to wrestle with the intricacies of the French legal system!

Also, I don't think you can restrict "proper kilts", as a definition, to Scotland, certainly Steve, Rocky and the other non-Scottish advertisers on this site would disagree, along with their clients.

The objection is to kilts made outside Scotland being described as "Scottish kilts" which clearly, they are not. I've no objection to Pakistani kilts, I don't want one (personal choice) but I do object to them carrying "Scottish" labels. I doubt any members here would be misled but that isn't true of the general population who, as you say, are less well informed. Shouldn't we offer them the same protection as sparkling wine drinkers?

As always, as our American cousins say, your mileage may vary!