Burberry without restrictions?

[CDNSushi]

I was browsing the Scottish Register of Tartans because I have been wondering: really, what IS the difference between the Thomson Camel and Burberry? It was once explained to me that Thomson Camel was essentially the freeware version of the corporate Burberry tartan, which is restricted.

Well, according the the Register, it doesn't seem to be...

http://www.tartanregister.gov.uk/tar...s.aspx?ref=440

If you don't want to go to the page, here is the relevant info (red font=mine):

Category: Corporate

Restrictions: There are no restrictions recorded on the usage of this tartan

Registration notes: The first use of the Burberry design was said to have been by an Italian luggage manufacturer (John Bain reported that this came from David Doig - a well known and very knowledgeable man from Scotch House in London.) It has become so much part of the Burberry image that it has been trademarked and can now be regarded as a Corporate tartan. The basic sett remains the same even with official Burberry colour changes. Scottish Tartans Society thread count slightly different K24, W24, K24, LT84, R8. Sindex notes give 1984 as the date.

Anyway, what do the resident experts have to say about that?


BTW, for the record here are the two setts side by side:
(left=Thomson Camel) ; (right=Burberry corporate)

[chasem]

There may be no restrictions recorded, but there have been stories of them causing trouble with people who sell thomson camels.

[slohairt]

Well, I think the difference is obvious. Besides the different thread count, the thin white line through the black is absent from the Burberry. Another example of a similar situation would be the Gordon tartan, which is essentially the Black Watch tartan with a yellow stripe replacing a black stripe. As for the Burberries (?) threatening other companies, I don't think they have much of a leg to stand on.

[beloitpiper]

I like the Thomson better anyways...

[McMurdo]

The Thompson does look better, IMHO

[The Wizard of BC]

If you look through some other listings in the register you will find that thay are still updating the listings. Many that are covered by Copyright still say "no restriction"

The Burberry check is Copyrighted and the company does attempt to protect that copyright.

[CDNSushi]

Ahhhh. So if you want the thread count, get it while you still can, huh?

[The Wizard of BC]

The thread count is readily available to anyone. It is the right to weave it, and then to make things from it, that is protected.

The Burberry check used to be just a cool pattern that was used for the inner liner of the civilian version of the famous Burberry trench coat of WWI and WWII fame. (think Rick's coat in Casablanca).

Then in the 1980's it became a fad and status symbol in London and then everywhere. Sort of like the Gucci stripes.
At one time if you weren't sporting something with the Burberry check you just were not "IN".

[CDNSushi]

Here in Japan, Burberry is as popular as ever... Not as much as Louis Vuitton, but still. Expect to pay quite a bit for the privilege of wearing it.

I'm sure that if I ever got me a Thomson Camel kilt, it would be all the rage! :-) (It's one of my favorite tartans)

[The Wizard of BC]

Well, now that you know the difference between the two. look around and you will be surprised at how many people are wearing the Thompson Camel and think (and perhaps paid the premium price for) Burberry.
It's actually kind of funny seeing it. You can laugh behind your hand at the gullible ones.