July 28, 2008

Quiggins boss told to halt use of 08 logo

The former owner of Liverpool’s Quiggins centre has been warned by the city’s Culture Company about using the 08 logo to promote the British National Party.

Hill Dickinson, the Culture Company’s solicitors, have written to BNP party member Peter Tierney threatening legal action over his use of a version of the Liverpool 08 logo on an advertising hoarding he tows behind a vehicle.

The threat comes in the same month they contacted former Culture Company chief executive Jason Harborow for using the logo on the website of a consultancy firm he set up after leaving the company.

But Mr Tierney, who trades as Peter Quiggins from his antique dealership on Aigburth Road, claims the threats are unnecessary and heavy-handed.

He said: “I put the logo on my trailer and it says that the city has been sold off. It’s not the Capital of Culture, it’s the Capital of Vultures. I’ve even drawn the logo myself – when you look at it, you can tell I’ve drawn it.”

He said that he was making a political statement and should be allowed to exercise his right to free speech. Far from using the logo for his own ends, he said he was attempting to undermine what he sees as a false impression created by the Capital of Culture status.

Mr Tierney fought a long-running battle with the city council and developer Grosvenor, who wanted to use the Quiggins site on School Lane for the Liverpool One development. Despite thousands of people supporting his battle, the site was eventually built on.

It is not the first time Mr Tierney has used iconic images to publicise his battle. In 2002 he unveiled a massive banner which morphed his face with Che Guevara as he fought to survive the rebuild programme. However, his current links with the BNP have caused the Culture Company to take a dim view of his actions.

A spokesman said: “We do not affiliate ourselves to any political parties so we will not allow our logo to be used in this way.”

The letter sent to Mr Tierney, is almost identical to the one posted to Mr Harborow. That letter states that his use of the logo is an infringement of the company’s registered rights along with their intellectual property rights.

It adds: “We have advised our client further that they are entitled to institute infringement proceedings against you in respect of trade mark infringement.”

Liverpool Daily Post

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Tierney always has been a self-serving arrogant fuckwit. It's no great surprise that he's in the BNP really.

Anonymous said...

Scouser AND in the BNP?

Not got much going for himself, has he?

Anonymous said...

This is the same BNP Peter Tierney stopped and searched by armed police in Liverpool town centre! Thought that treatment was only reserved for BNP hitman Joe Owens!