The Conservative Party has agreed to compensate artist Stanley Chow after using his illustration of Andy Burnham without authorization in political campaign materials.
Chow, whose artwork has been used by the Greater Manchester mayor on social media, stated on Facebook that the party utilized the image without seeking permission. Following legal advice, the artist threatened litigation, prompting a settlement understood to include a £1,000 licensing fee plus a contribution toward his legal costs.
The dispute centered on water bottles distributed by the Conservatives featuring Chow’s illustration alongside the slogan labeling Burnham a “bottler.” In a social media post confirming the resolution, Chow noted the party had settled following their “indiscretion,” adding a pointed remark about copyright obligations: “Maybe ask first… admittedly I would have said no, but it would have been a damn sight cheaper for the Tory Party if they just hired any illustrator to do their take on a cartoon of Burnham… hopefully this a lesson learned. Copyright matters.”
A Conservative Party spokesman acknowledged the resolution, stating: “The Conservative Party values the importance of intellectual property in the creative industries. We consider this matter closed.”
