Allowed tartans

[Don Patrick]

The Chiefs can make the rules about their tartans, insofar as they can say which tartans are official clan tartans. They can have it registered with the Lord Lyon. But they can't prevent anyone from wearing their tartan or demand allegiance from anyone (in case they're trying to lead a raid on a neighboring clan).
That said, just because you can do something does not mean you necessarily should. I can go out and wear any tartan I would like and behave any way I like in it. But I subscribe to the "respect" school of thought. I'll wear a tartan I don't have a "connection" to, but I will know the clan, the history of it, I'll behave myself (best as I can ), I won't pretend I'm something I'm not and I'll be willing to down a few beers with any clans members I run into

For some reason the clan chiefs and the Lord of Lyon seem to believe they have that right. After all that is part of the tradition of wearing the tartan. I believe people have the right to have their traditions respected. Any thing short of that might have be assumed to be some form of disrespect. At least for one, I've never been one to trample on another's tradition.

Most everything we do or honor in life is interwined in some form of tradition. Certainly if they wanted to to pursue the matter they might be able to invoke 'copyright'. Unfortunately, a copyright law does not transcend a nation's borders. International copyright law is merely a matter of each country's gentleman's agreement. Different countries agreeing to respect another's copyright law.

Even local US law is in not fail safe in this regard. It has always been against the US Public Law to wear the buttons of the military dress uniform (outside of those in the military). But I doubt you'd find that the FBI is interested in dragging someone in for doing so. So... I guess we are left with tradition and any concern we might have about the feelings of others in these matters.