Artist who claims breach of copyright over image used in SAFC shirt demands club 'do the right thing'
“This was a community piece of art which I did for the people of Sunderland”
An artist is demanding Sunderland football club “do the right thing” after claiming they have used an image of one of his sculptures on the team’s popular away shirt without his permission.
The dispute focuses on a sculpture called C which is located at Roker Beach to mark the end of the Sea to Sea cycle route.
The sculpture was commissioned by Sunderland City Council and created by Andrew Small.
It incorporates a viewing hole engraved in slab of black granite, looking towards Roker Lighthouse - an image which Andrew, 61, of Liverpool, says the club has woven into the pattern of their design without his permission.
He said: “It was first brought to my attention in November when one of my friends asked me if I had seen the Sunderland AFC blue away kit and, when I looked at it, it seemed pretty blatant that the image in the shirt was my design.
“I also saw the video from the club advertising the new strip which shows two former players and people dancing around in the new shirts at Roker Beach interspersed with images of my sculpture looking out to Roker lighthouse.”
After a week “thinking about it”, Andrew instructed his lawyer to write to SAFC to notify them of his claim of a breach of copyright.
He said: “It clearly states in my contract with the Council that the rights to the ‘C’ design belongs to the artist - me- and any associated merchandise must be negotiated with the artist.
“The club initially came back with a letter rejecting my claim. I don’t want this to go to court, but I will if need be.
“It may well be the result of an oversight of people at the club. But I’m just asking them to be reasonable and to recompense me for what would be the standard licence fee to use my design, which is all I would have asked for in the first place.
“I’m happy to settle out of court, and I don’t want it to escalate, I just want the club to do the right thing.”
Andrew said the claim against the club is not just about money.
He added: “This was a community piece of art which I did for the people of Sunderland. I didn’t want it to be messed with and for the design to be associated with something else.”
We have contacted Sunderland AFC about Andrew’s legal claim and are awaiting their response.