COPYRIGHT & INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Page Updated: 7 October 2026

Operated by Steven Patrick Sim t/a The Tartan Artisan®

Governing Law: Scotland | Framework: UK Copyright, Designs & Patents Act 1988 (CDPA)

 

 

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1. Purpose of This Policy

This policy explains how copyright, design rights, and intellectual property (IP) are owned, protected, and permitted for use across all creative works produced by The Tartan Artisan® — including artwork, tartan designs, fine-art prints, photographs, written materials, and branded products.

It protects both the creative integrity of Steven Patrick Sim as the author and designer, and the rights of customers and collaborators engaging with his work.

This policy also clarifies the position for Declaration of Arbroath artworks, including the Declaration 3D Fine Art Facsimiles, the legacy Declaration Gold Metallic Print Editions, and the current Burnished Gold Editions — Black Onyx, Pewter, and Pearl. In these works, original creative work by Steven Patrick Sim sits alongside source material, permissions, historical manuscript imagery, and third-party or Crown copyright material.

 

 

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2. Copyright Ownership

Unless stated otherwise, original creative works made by Steven Patrick Sim and displayed on this website and associated platforms — including but not limited to:

• Visual artworks, tartan designs, textile patterns, and photography

• Product descriptions, narratives, and written copy

• Logo designs, brand marks, and trade dress

• Digital assets, product images, and layout elements

• Original artistic interpretation, product presentation, photography, design layout, explanatory text, and supporting materials for Declaration of Arbroath artworks, subject to any separate rights held by third parties or public bodies in underlying source material

are the copyrighted property of Steven Patrick Sim t/a The Tartan Artisan® where copyright subsists, and are protected under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 (UK) and applicable international protections. This does not claim ownership of underlying historical facts, ideas, public-domain material, or third-party rights identified in Section 8.

All rights are reserved worldwide.

 

 

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3. Trademarks & Brand Identity

• “The Tartan Artisan®” is a registered trademark (UK). Uses requiring the proprietor’s permission must be authorised in writing; lawful reference to the brand remains subject to applicable trademark law.

• Associated brand identifiers — including “TARTAN250”, “TARTAN.LOVE”, and specific tartan collection names (e.g. Star-Spangled Banner®, The Angels’ Share®, Earthrise Tartan®, North Sea Oil®, and The Declaration 1320®) — may also be protected by applicable trademark rights and passing-off and goodwill principles, where the legal requirements are met.

• Use that infringes trademark or other IP rights, or misrepresents a connection with this business, is prohibited. Nothing in this policy removes lawful uses or statutory exceptions.

 

 

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4. Design Rights

Original tartan designs created by Steven Patrick Sim are recorded in the Scottish Register of Tartans. Registration provides evidence of the existence and date of a design; entry in that Register does not itself grant copyright, a UK registered design, or other exclusive IP rights.

Original visual expression may qualify for copyright. Registered and unregistered design protections have different requirements, scope, and duration; they do not automatically protect every colour palette, idea, or story. Relevant original work may include:

• Original tartan artwork and its particular visual arrangement or sett, where protected

• Original written narratives and artwork expressing symbolic meaning, rather than the underlying ideas themselves

• Associated textile artworks, graphics, and digital renderings

Fabric mills, partners, or third parties weaving or reproducing protected designs require an express licence where the relevant rights require permission, subject to applicable legal exceptions.

 

 

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5. Use of Images & Content

Personal Use

You may view, share, or link to our original content from this website for personal, non-commercial purposes, provided proper credit is given to The Tartan Artisan®. This permission covers only rights that we control; it does not grant permission to reuse Crown copyright or other third-party material.

Editorial or Press Use

Press outlets, museums, and event organisers may reproduce our own low-resolution imagery for editorial coverage with credit lines such as:

Image © Steven Patrick Sim / The Tartan Artisan®

High-resolution images for publication or broadcast require prior written permission. Where an image includes Declaration of Arbroath manuscript material or other third-party content, the relevant source credit and any required permission must also be retained or obtained; our permission alone does not override those rights.

Commercial or Derivative Use

Copying, reproducing, selling reproductions, adapting, or making derivative works from protected content, designs, or artworks belonging to The Tartan Artisan® requires an explicit licence where permission is required by law. Statutory exceptions, including applicable fair dealing, remain available.

For licensing or collaboration enquiries, contact enquiries@thetartanartisan.com.

 

 

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6. Collaborative & Partner Works

Certain products and imagery may involve collaboration with trusted partners:

• theprintspace – fine-art printing and framing for selected partner-fulfilled editions, including Star-Spangled Banner prints.

• Contrado Imaging Ltd – print-on-demand textiles and accessories.

• Glenisla Kilts – production of custom Highland wear.

• Aizle Framing, Balfron – specialist framing, handling, collection, and local/regional delivery support for selected framed artworks.

Partners are authorised to reproduce artworks only for the agreed work or fulfilment of authorised orders, while respecting the relevant IP rights.
The Burnished Gold Editions are printed and prepared in Steven Patrick Sim’s Arbroath studio. Original edition photography, companion-guide text, care material, and packaging presentation are subject to the same ownership and source-rights distinctions set out in this policy.

 

 

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7. Customer Rights

When you purchase a product or artwork, you acquire ownership of the physical item. You may display it, give it as a gift, or lawfully resell that item; ownership does not transfer copyright or grant permission to make reproductions or new derivative works.
Digital downloads, images, and print files remain protected and licensed only for the uses described when supplied, subject to applicable law.

Commissioned works and bespoke tartans may include specific licensing clauses, detailed within individual contracts.

 

 

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8. Third-Party Content, Source Material & Historical References

Some materials (e.g. photography, logos, fonts, archive references, museum references, historical documents, engravings, illustrations, public-body material, or other third-party source material) may appear under licence, permission, fair dealing, public-domain status, or other lawful basis, depending on the specific item and context.
Such underlying content remains the property of its respective owner, creator, custodian, archive, museum, public body, or rights holder where applicable and may not be reused without any permission required from that party.

Declaration of Arbroath Source Material

The surviving copy of the Declaration of Arbroath is held by the National Records of Scotland. Images of the Declaration of Arbroath, including the manuscript, seals, and excerpts, are Crown copyright, National Records of Scotland, SP13/7, unless otherwise stated.

Declaration of Arbroath artworks created by Steven Patrick Sim / The Tartan Artisan® are produced with respect for that underlying source material and, where applicable, with permission kindly granted by the National Records of Scotland in 2016. No endorsement by the National Records of Scotland, the Scottish Government, or any public body is implied unless expressly stated.

Historic Engravings, Seal Research & Interpretive Reference Material

The Declaration of Arbroath artworks may also draw upon historical research, visual study, and interpretive reference material, including historic engravings, archive records, museum or heritage displays, published historical references, and photographs or reference images lawfully created or used for research and artistic development.

This may include reference to the historic William Home Lizars engraving of the Declaration of Arbroath, where relevant to seal research, missing or damaged details, visual reconstruction, or explanation of the creative process. No ownership is claimed by The Tartan Artisan® in any underlying historic engraving, archive record, museum object, public-body material, or third-party source itself. Any rights, credits, permissions, or restrictions in such underlying material remain with the relevant owner, creator, custodian, archive, museum, public body, or rights holder where applicable.

Photographs, drawings, digital modelling, written interpretation, product presentation, and artistic reconstructions created by Steven Patrick Sim remain protected works of The Tartan Artisan®, but only in the new creative work, photography, interpretation, design, presentation, and expression created by him. Such protection does not remove or override any rights belonging to owners or custodians of underlying source material.

The Tartan Artisan® Creative Work

The physical presentation, creative interpretation, reconstructed 3D facsimile structure, interpretive seal work, edition design, photography, written presentation, explanatory material, supporting materials, and product-specific arrangement created by Steven Patrick Sim remain protected works of The Tartan Artisan®, where the relevant rights subsist and subject to the underlying rights and acknowledgements noted above. This includes the current Burnished Gold Editions and their original companion-guide and care material; it does not create new ownership of the underlying manuscript or historic sources.

 

 

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9. Infringement & Enforcement

We actively monitor the unauthorised use of our designs and brand materials.
If you believe your work has been used on our platforms without permission, or if you wish to report potential infringement of The Tartan Artisan® IP, please contact enquiries@thetartanartisan.com with details and supporting evidence.

We reserve the right to address infringement through licensing discussions, cease-and-desist notices, and appropriate legal action. Injunctions or damages are matters for the relevant court and depend on the rights and evidence in the particular case.

 

 

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10. Takedown Requests

If you are a copyright holder and believe any content displayed on this site infringes your rights, please send a written notice to:

Steven Patrick Sim
The Tartan Artisan® Studio
55 Lordburn, Arbroath, Angus, DD11 1JD, Scotland
✉ enquiries@thetartanartisan.com

 

Include:

1. Your name and contact details

2. Description and proof of the copyrighted work

3. URL or location of the alleged infringement

4. A statement confirming good-faith belief that use is unauthorised

We aim to respond within 7 business days and, where appropriate, remove or replace the content pending investigation.

 

 

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11. Moral Rights

As author and designer, Steven Patrick Sim asserts his moral rights under Part I, Chapter IV of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, including the right to be identified as the creator of his original works where applicable.
These rights are subject to their statutory scope, duration, and exceptions. They are personal rights and cannot be assigned in the same way as copyright, although the law allows them to be waived in writing. They do not all last indefinitely.

 

 

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12. Limitations of Liability

We aim to keep published information accurate and will consider concerns brought to our attention. Permission from The Tartan Artisan® covers only the rights we control; users remain responsible for obtaining any additional permissions required for their intended use.
Nothing in this policy excludes or restricts liability that cannot lawfully be excluded, including liability for fraud or death or personal injury caused by negligence, or affects customers’ statutory rights. Our Terms of Service apply to purchases.

 

 

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13. Governing Law

This policy is governed by Scots law, subject to mandatory laws that apply. The scope and enforcement of IP rights depend on the relevant territory and right.
Nothing in this policy removes mandatory consumer protections or a consumer’s right to bring proceedings in a court available under applicable law.

 

 

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14. Updates to This Policy

We may revise this policy periodically to reflect changes in law, branding, or partnerships.
The most current version will always appear on this page, dated at the top.

 

 

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15. Contact

Steven Patrick Sim
The Tartan Artisan® Studio
55 Lordburn, Arbroath, Angus, DD11 1JD, Scotland
✉ enquiries@thetartanartisan.com

 

 

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16. Registered Rights Portfolio (Selected Works)

This summary lists selected registration references associated with the catalogue. It is not exhaustive; the current scope, term, and status of a registered right depend on the relevant register and any required renewals.

 

 

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For licensing or permitted use queries, please email:
enquiries@thetartanartisan.com

 

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End of Copyright & Intellectual Property Policy

(This policy forms part of The Tartan Artisan® Legal Framework and applies across all domains including TARTAN250 and Tartan.LOVE.)