Established Titles
 | |
| Founded | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Katerina Yip |
| Headquarters | Hong Kong |
| Products | Souvenir plots |
| Parent | Galton Voysey |
| Website | establishedtitles |
Established Titles is a company which sells souvenir plots of Scottish land from 1 sq ft (0.09 m2) to 20 sq ft (1.86 m2). The company retains legal ownership of the land. While the company claims that those who buy the 'plots' can choose to be titled Lord, Laird or Lady, as part of a supposed "traditional Scottish custom", souvenir plots are too small to be legally registered for ownership and owners of souvenir plots do not have the right to officially title themselves.[1] It owns land in Ardallie, Aberdeenshire,[2][3] Dunfermline, Dumfries, Galloway and the Borders.[4] YouTuber Scott Shafer's video alleging that the company was a scam caused significant controversy and many YouTubers to cease receiving sponsorships from the company.[5]
Operations
[edit]It was founded by CEO Katerina Yip.[2] Established Titles has allegedly been referred to the Advertising Standards Authority.[6] It received backlash for its aggressive marketing efforts, which involves recruiting YouTubers for promotions.[4][7] The company is owned by Hong Kong-based investment firm, Galton Voysey Ltd.[8]
Controversy
[edit]On 23 November 2022, YouTuber Scott Shafer uploaded a video accusing Established Titles of being a scam that misleads its customers, advising YouTubers to stop working with the company as they do not legally bestow ownership.[9] After the video went viral, many YouTubers dropped their sponsorships, including Philip DeFranco and SomeOrdinaryGamers. Established Titles defended itself in a letter to its partners saying that it was "under a targeted, completely unfounded attack based on bogus claims", claiming that it had been transparent about its practices. Many other YouTubers have released videos reasserting Shafer's stance.[2][4][10][11]
Legally, the company never transfers ownership of the plots to the customers, but even if they did, the Court of the Lord Lyon has stated that "ownership of a souvenir plot of land does not bring with it the right to any description such as ‘laird’, ‘lord’ or ‘lady’". The Court also stated that laird is not a title but a description of an owner of a large estate, not a residential sized property or smaller, and that the titles lord or lady can only be conferred by letters patent, at the pleasure of the Sovereign.[12] Additionally, the Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012 specifically excludes souvenir plots, which it defines as a plot "of inconsiderable size and of no practical utility", from being registered in Scotland.[13]
Established Titles said that the plots were "a fun gift, meant for a good laugh" and that customers are aware of this; this has been refuted, according to NBC News, by customers who have reported that they believed they were buying land.[2]
References
[edit]- ^ Robertson, Craig (4 December 2022). "Hong Kong investment firm buys Scottish land and claims it will make punters lords and ladies". Daily Record. Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ^ a b c d Tolentino, Daysia (2 December 2022). "Some YouTube creators are dropping their sponsorships with Established Titles after the company is accused of being a 'scam'". NBC News. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ McVicker, Daniela (3 April 2022). "Established Titles Partners With Nonprofits To Address Scottish Deforestation". Blue & Green Tomorrow. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ a b c Hunter, Ross (30 November 2022). "YouTube: Established Titles criticized for 'selling' Scottish land". The National. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ "Some YouTube creators are dropping their sponsorships with Established Titles after company is accused of being a 'scam'". NBC News. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
- ^ "Firm selling 'souvenir plots' of Scots land faces watchdog investigation". The National. 13 December 2022. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
- ^ "Some YouTube creators are dropping their sponsorships with Established Titles after company is accused of being a 'scam'". NBC News. 1 December 2022. Retrieved 19 January 2024.
- ^ "Terms and Conditions". www.establishedtitles.com. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
- ^ Shafer, Scott (23 November 2022). Established Titles Scam -YouTube's BIGGEST Con! Graham Stephan & Andrei Jikh. Retrieved 2 May 2023 – via YouTube.
- ^ LaCapria, Kim (28 November 2022). "'Established Titles' Controversy". TruthOrFiction.com. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ Milner, Richard (28 November 2022). "How The Established Titles Scam Really Works". Grunge.com. Static Media. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
- ^ "Caution the souvenir hunters". Law Society of Scotland. 16 April 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2024.
- ^ "Land Registration etc. (Scotland) Act 2012". Scottish Parliament. p. s. 22.