Tayside Police Tartan

[Basso]

Hi,
I have just discovered the Tayside Police Tartan. Too my eye it is very appealing. I believe it is a corporate tartan and was designed by serving members. I imagine that this tartan would be restricted by use to the public and if so, would it be immoral or illegal to change the tartan slightly keeping its characteristics and renaming and re-registering it for personal use. I have a pic of the tartan on photo bucket
Regards,
Basso


http://s767.photobucket.com/albums/xx318/albymacb/

[MacMillans son]

Well, STA does not indicate that it is restricted, but it does have a copyright to the original designers. Their original intent, it seems, was that it was for their officers and their pipe band.

It may come down to "What can I do" versus "What should I do". You could ask them (Tayside PD) for permission to have a length made, or use the same color palette and create your own tartan using one of the many tartan design programs available. With an eye towards intellectual/artistic property rights, ripping off their design by changing a small detail in the tartan would, in my opinion, not be not a viable option.

Best of luck with your quest!

[okiwen]

Using terms like "Immoral and illegal" don't make sense to me in regards to Tartan. Perhaps, even the use of "unethical" is still a bit too strong. We are talking about material for heavens sake.

I can sleep with my brothers, neighbor’s girlfriend and suffer a moral and maybe illegal lapse in character. I cannot wear my best friend’s family tartan and suffer a wrath from heaven.

I don't believe that there is a special place in hell for the presumed inappropriate use of color and pattern. Therefore, I see it as not a "moral" question.

[auld argonian]

I don't know...I always figure that those service tartans should be worn only by the members of the service. I don't hold with this "I'm wearing it to HONOR the....whatever" line of logic because I feel that it's just an excuse for another indulgence in compulsive tartan acquisition syndrome. Personally, I'm stickin' to my own "gang colors" from now on...there are plenty of tartans to go 'round and I don't want to invite myself to a party that I wasn't invited to.

Best

AA

[Chas]

The Scottish Register of Tartans (The official registry), lists no restrictions.

Tayside Police

STA ref: 6598
STWR ref: 3047
Designer: Edward/Ellis/Reid
Tartan date: Not Specified
Registration date: This tartan was recorded prior to the launch of The Scottish Register of Tartans.
Category: Corporate
Restrictions:
Registration notes: Designed in November 2003 by serving officers Grant Edward, Lindsay Ellis and Pipe Major Terry Reid. For use of members of the force and the Tayside Police Pipe Band. Weaver was Marton Mills.

I very much doubt that the Register would allow you to "change the tartan slightly keeping its characteristics and renaming".



Regards

Chas

[piperdbh]

What if, instead of monkeying with the tartan to create something that's like it but not exactly it, the OP were to contact the Tayside Police, explain that he really likes their tartan, and offer to make a donation to their benevolence/retirement/whtever else they do to help people in exchange for their blessing for him to have a length of it woven? Who knows? They might have a few yards of it lying around that they'd be willing to sell.

[OC Richard]

It's a lovely tartan.

Here's the band itself, playing one of their MSRs:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CABJiECKW3w

The tartan is mentioned by the presenter. (Bummer about those D's.)

Here they are back in 2007. I really like the opening tune of their medley:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hWOmjFsIIoo

[Neil Clark]

Contact Tayside, they might sell you one! Band no longer competes, and barely exists.
To cap that, all forces merge in 2013. My bet (opinion only) is that there will be ONE National band, if any.

[Chirs]

Hi,
I have just discovered the Tayside Police Tartan. Too my eye it is very appealing. I believe it is a corporate tartan and was designed by serving members. I imagine that this tartan would be restricted by use to the public and if so, would it be immoral or illegal to change the tartan slightly keeping its characteristics and renaming and re-registering it for personal use. I have a pic of the tartan on photo bucket
Regards,
Basso


http://s767.photobucket.com/albums/xx318/albymacb/

I like that you have asked the question and I agree with your misgivings. But it sounds like you may have the opportunity to acquire either tartan or kilt (or both!) without having to act like a sneak. I hope you pursue this and let us know how it turns out.

[BoldHighlander]

It is a handsome looking tartan...

What if, instead of monkeying with the tartan to create something that's like it but not exactly it, the OP were to contact the Tayside Police, explain that he really likes their tartan, and offer to make a donation to their benevolence/retirement/whtever else they do to help people in exchange for their blessing for him to have a length of it woven? Who knows? They might have a few yards of it lying around that they'd be willing to sell.

Contact Tayside, they might sell you one! Band no longer competes, and barely exists.
To cap that, all forces merge in 2013. My bet (opinion only) is that there will be ONE National band, if any.

Great suggestions...

Personally, I'm stickin' to my own "gang colors" from now on...there are plenty of tartans to go 'round and I don't want to invite myself to a party that I wasn't invited to.

***