Andrew Small accuses Sunderland of using sculpture image on away shirt without permission | OneFootball

Andrew Small has accused Sunderland of using imagery from his Roker Beach sculpture on the club’s away shirt without permission, urging the club to "do the right thing".

According to Sunderland Echo, the row centres on C, the artwork at Roker Beach commissioned by Sunderland City Council that frames Roker Lighthouse through a viewing hole cut into black granite. Small believes that motif appears in the shirt’s pattern.

He says a friend first alerted him in November to the blue away kit, and a club video promoting the strip, filmed at Roker Beach with former players, also featured images of the sculpture.

After a week considering his options, Small instructed a lawyer to notify Sunderland of an alleged copyright breach. He says his contract with Sunderland City Council states the rights to the C design belong to him and that any merchandise must be negotiated with the artist.

Small says the club initially rejected his claim. He does not want the dispute to reach court, but says he will proceed if required and is seeking what he calls a standard licence fee.

He adds that the case is not solely about money, describing C as a community artwork for Sunderland and saying he did not want the design altered or linked to something else.

The club has been contacted for comment and a response is awaited.

Source: Sunderland Echo