Artist 'taking legal advice' over Tories' use of Andy Burnham portrait - BBC News
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Artist 'taking legal advice' over Tories' use of Andy Burnham portrait
Image source: PA Media
Image caption: Bottles of water poking fun at Andy Burnham were handed out at the Conservative Party conference.
By Stewart Whittingham
North West
Published 1 hour ago
An artist has said he is taking legal advice after accusing the Conservative Party of copying his portrait of Andy Burnham at their party conference.
People attending the party's conference in Birmingham have been handed water bottles featuring the image and labelled "Bottler Burnham" and "0% strength".
Labour supporter Stanley Chow, who created the image for Burnham's 2021 mayoral campaign in Greater Manchester, has claimed the party did not ask for permission to use the image.
A Conservative Party spokeswoman said the bottles were not on sale and merely handed out to attending media in "goody bags".
Manchester illustrator Stanley Chow said:
"I was stunned and angry when I saw what they had done. It is childish from them. I am taking legal advice. I'm very disappointed. It's frustrating that an institution like the Conservative Party has no idea that they are infringing copyright."
The artist claimed Reform UK had also infringed his copyright by using the image a few months ago in AI-generated social media campaign posts.
A Reform UK spokesman said at the time that it had "removed the posts in good faith and without any admission of liability on our part".
Chow said:
"I can't quite believe the Tories are resorting to this too. Regardless of your political allegiance, what the Tories have done is still copyright infringement."
"Ultimately, I want to raise awareness that you can't just take someone else's artwork and do what you want with it," he added. "I want to show other artists that when this does happen, you can make a stand, especially in this day and age where artists are struggling, because of AI and the cost of living."
Manchester United fan Chow is well-known for his portraits of famous faces and has created images of footballers, including Wayne Rooney, Edgar Davids and Ronaldinho.