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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Freddie Mercury Norwich gorilla in copyright row | Freddie Mercury Norwich gorilla in copyright row |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A gorilla sculpture painted as Freddie Mercury must be moved and because it infringes copyright. | A gorilla sculpture painted as Freddie Mercury must be moved and because it infringes copyright. |
| Organisers of Go Go Gorillas, a public art trail in Norwich, were contacted by Mercury Phoenix Trust, an Aids charity set up in memory of the Queen singer who died in 1991. | |
| The charity claimed the suit the gorilla is wearing breaches copyright. | The charity claimed the suit the gorilla is wearing breaches copyright. |
| It asked that the sculpture, called Freddie "Radio Go Go" Gorilla, be removed and repainted. | It asked that the sculpture, called Freddie "Radio Go Go" Gorilla, be removed and repainted. |
| The sculpture, which stands on Millennium Plain outside The Forum, was painted by Mik Richardson. | The sculpture, which stands on Millennium Plain outside The Forum, was painted by Mik Richardson. |
| 'Dreadful and petty' | |
| It is one 53 lifesize gorillas decorated by artists and displayed on the streets of Norwich over the summer. | It is one 53 lifesize gorillas decorated by artists and displayed on the streets of Norwich over the summer. |
| Mr Richardson, 50, of Aylsham, Norfolk, said the decision was to order its removal was "absolutely shocking". | |
| He said: "It's dreadful. It's petty, really. The night I was told I couldn't sleep." | |
| Mr Richardson was paid £800 to design and paint the gorilla, which took him three days. | |
| "I'm a mural artist and I have to be very careful about copyright," he said. | |
| "I didn't copy the suit exactly. I alter enough so that it's fan art, rather than a copy of it. | |
| Mercury Phoenix Trust contacted Wild in Art, the company that created the trail, according to director Charlie Langhorne. | |
| "They just said that they own the copyright on the suit and asked us to change it," Mr Langhorne said. | "They just said that they own the copyright on the suit and asked us to change it," Mr Langhorne said. |
| "That's being sorted. To save any bother we will change it. | "That's being sorted. To save any bother we will change it. |
| "We do quite a few bits and pieces for them but it's no great shakes. | "We do quite a few bits and pieces for them but it's no great shakes. |
| "We would rather not have to do it but it's not the end of the world." | "We would rather not have to do it but it's not the end of the world." |
| 'Enjoy a gorilla' | |
| He said the gorilla would be removed and repainted with a "new and exciting design" and should be back in place within 10 days. | He said the gorilla would be removed and repainted with a "new and exciting design" and should be back in place within 10 days. |
| "People in Norwich will have a new gorilla to enjoy soon," he said. | "People in Norwich will have a new gorilla to enjoy soon," he said. |
| Martin Green of Break, one of two charities that will benefit from the auction of the gorillas once the exhibition is over, said: "It's a disappointing position they have put us in. | Martin Green of Break, one of two charities that will benefit from the auction of the gorillas once the exhibition is over, said: "It's a disappointing position they have put us in. |
| "This is a charity and everything we have done was with good intention. Our hands are tied." | |
| Mercury Phoenix Trust was unavailable for comment. |