Artist considers legal action over Tories’ unauthorised Burnham cartoon use
Manchester-based illustrator Stanley Chow is considering legal action against the Conservative Party after they used his cartoon of Prime Minister Andy Burnham without permission. The artwork was originally commissioned for campaign material during the Makerfield byelection in June, but was later reproduced on water bottles distributed at the Conservative conference with the slogan "bottler Burnham". Chow discovered the unauthorised use whilst watching Sky News coverage of the event.
The artist has instructed lawyers to pursue potential legal remedies, including compensation and a public apology. This is the second time Chow's work has been used without consent; Reform UK previously deployed his cartoon in a social media advertisement without permission, attaching it to an anti-immigration message the artist does not endorse. A lawyer confirmed this constitutes clear copyright infringement with strong legal grounds for action.
- Tories used artist's cartoon without permission on water bottles at party conference.
- Chow is considering legal action for copyright infringement.
- Reform UK also previously used his work without consent.
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Stanley Chow is a Manchester-based illustrator whose political cartoons have been reproduced without his permission. The Conservative Party used one of his drawings of Prime Minister Andy Burnham on water bottles distributed at their party conference with the slogan "bottler Burnham". The artwork was originally commissioned for campaign material during the Makerfield byelection in June.
Using someone's work without permission is copyright infringement, and artists can pursue legal remedies including compensation and apologies. This is the second time Chow's work has been used without consent; Reform UK previously posted one of his cartoons on social media alongside an anti-immigration message the artist does not endorse. The repeated unauthorised use has prompted Chow to pursue legal action through his lawyers.
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Originally published by The Guardian as “Artist calls in lawyers after Tories use his Burnham portrait without consent”.