THE Harris Tweed Authority yesterday began proceedings in Edinburgh's Court of Session seeking an interdict against two textiles companies.
The authority, which represents the Harris Tweed industry, believes that Harris Tweed Textiles, operating from Carloway Mill on Lewis, and Coats UK, trading as Rowan Yarns, have taken "unfair advantage" of the reputation and goodwill attached to Harris Tweed, and that registered marks have been infringed.
HTA noted that Harris Tweed Textiles has diversified out of the Harris Tweed industry and into the manufacture of yarns for knitting, which it supplies to Rowan Yarns. It then markets these yarns, largely over the internet, where they compete with "Aran tweed yarns", "Yorkshire tweed yarns", and "Donegal tweed yarns".
Last December, the HTA became aware of a knitting yarn called "Harris Yarn" being sold by Rowan. This product is believed to have been partly processed by Harris Tweed Textiles at the Carloway Mill.
Sandy Matheson, chairman of the HTA, last night said:
"The decision to bring legal action was not one taken lightly, but the authority has a statutory duty to protect Harris Tweed and will do so whenever necessary."
The authority also noted its concerns over the use of the Harris Tweed brand name in company websites and on labels for products that are not Harris Tweed.
Additionally, it questioned the use by Harris Tweed Textiles of a mark on a product that is "confusingly similar" to the HTA's registered marks.
The complaint has similarities with last year's row over the labelling of Diageo's Cardhu "pure malt" whisky, which is a blend of malts from more than one distillery.
The drinks giant was eventually persuaded to withdraw the "pure malt" label and repackage the whisky following sustained pressure from the Scotch industry over the definition of the brand.
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