BURBERRY FERRETING OUT ITS IMAGE AGAINST FERRETS

Burberry has threatened legal action against a company that makes plaid hats for ferrets.

Lawyers for the Upper Uber Fashion label, Burberry have sent letters to England's Ferret World, an outlet for clothes made especially for the rodents.

According to the Daily Telegraph, the trouble began when a shop in Dudley, England, advertised a check-patterned fur-lined ferret cap and cape ensemble "in the famous Burberry design". Owner Simon Bishop said he was shocked to get a letter from Burberry saying he had violated its intellectual property rights, and agreed to remove the mention of the company's name from his shop's website.

But Burberry also demanded a sample of the material used to make the $12.20 outfits that claim to give ferrets "that out of town look.” They also wanted the names of all purchasers and a promise never to sell anything similar again. "Burberry should get a life," Bishop told the newspaper, saying he was still being threatened with legal action even though his material was a standard tartan, not the Burberry check.

"As far as I can see, their trademark refers to jackets and headwear for humans, and dog coats. How a two-inch cap for a ferret fits into that is anyone's guess," he added.

A spokesman for Burberry said the firm had no plans for a line of ferret accessories, but "that's not to say there won't be".