Copyright & artwork rights

Origins of the collection

Gaelic Themes is the brand name for a coordinated collection of tailored Highlandwear, accessories and clan crest products. The business has made a substantial long-term investment in developing and maintaining its heraldic artwork.

Our range of three-dimensional badges and two-dimensional line art is based on artwork published in the first edition of the Scottish Clan & Family Encyclopedia, dated 22 August 1994 (ISBN 0004705475). Subsequent reprints used the same copyright line drawings. Barnes & Noble was granted permission in 1998 to publish editions in the United States and Canada in hardback and paperback (ISBN 0760711208 and 076071147X).

The original collection comprised 148 badges representing members of the Standing Council at that time. The badges included in the encyclopedia were approved by the relevant clan chiefs. The artwork was drawn by heraldic artist Romilly Squire, who also produced subsequent additions, and the copyright was formally transferred to Gaelic Themes Ltd under a royalty agreement.

Over time, Gaelic Themes expanded the collection by creating line art for additional armigerous clans. The recorded collection comprises approximately 320 line-art images, with more than 200 supported by stocked three-dimensional pewter badges.

What the copyright covers

There are two distinct protected elements:

1. The strap-and-buckle design, which forms the common framework used across the badge collection.
2. The centre pieces, which are original artistic interpretations of clan arms. Protection of those interpretations does not prevent a materially different interpretation, provided it does not copy protected elements of Gaelic Themes artwork.