Wolves club badge design court battle begins
A man who sued Wolverhampton Wanderers after saying he designed a wolf's head motif used on players' shirts has taken his fight to the High Court.
Peter Davies claims he drew the wolf's head logo at school in the early 1960s and entered it in a competition.
Mr Davies, 71, says he recognised the drawing in 1979.
Bosses at the club dispute his copyright claim. They say he has no original artwork and has waited too long to launch legal proceedings.
Mr Davies said he composed sketches after a teacher asked him to demonstrate an understanding of Blaise Pascal's Hexagrammum Mysticum theorem.
The pensioner, originally from Wolverhampton but who now lives in Stourport, Worcestershire, said he entered the drawing in a competition run by an art gallery in the city.
He said he recognised it in 1979 when he noticed Wolves' new kit bore a wolf's head logo.
The pensioner applied to register a wolf head design in 2016, the judge heard.
Mr Davies said his original artwork was never returned and there were reasons for his "long delay" in bringing proceedings.
He said he wrote to the club in 1979 complaining about the use of his design but received no response and did not pursue the matter at that time.
Mr Davies said the delay should not "extinguish" his rights.
Club bosses said the 1979 logo was designed by graphic designer Ian Jackson and "revamped" by designer Jonathan Russell in 2002.
They said there was no reason why either designer would have copied Mr Davies' "alleged design".
Bosses said the "very long delay" in launching proceedings should count against Mr Davies and his claim should be dismissed.
The trial in London is due to end next week.
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