Brighton demands badge change from Croatian team over plagiarism claims

In a peculiar legal dispute, Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club, a Premier League side based in England, found themselves in a copyright issue with a Croatian third-tier team, NK Jadran-Galeb. This conflict arose when Brighton discovered that Jadran-Galeb's club crest closely resembled their own badge, with the only difference being the accompanying text. Brighton, known for their distinctive 'Seagulls' emblem since 1977, was informed of the crest's similarities when a representative from the Croatian side visited their club. The unexpected encounter prompted Brighton to address the issue formally. As a response to the similarity of the designs, Brighton issued a multi-page legal letter to NK Jadran-Galeb requesting that they clarify the situation regarding their badge design. Additionally, the letter included a warning for the Croatian club to remove the logo from their branding to avoid any potential legal repercussions. Josip Madaric, a lawyer for Jadran-Galeb, confirmed receiving a letter that, while somewhat threatening, ultimately called for cooperation without the pursuit of legal action. Brighton's demand emerged after they noted Jadran-Galeb's crest, which was adopted when the club was established in 2001, appeared to be a direct imitation of their own logo. At the time of their formation, Jadran-Galeb had drawn inspiration from Brighton, particularly during Brighton's promotion to what is now known as League One. This revelation added complexity to the matter, as the inspiration led to Jadran-Galeb adopting a design that, unbeknownst to them, would lead to significant copyright concerns years later. As the situation unfolded, the Croatian Football Federation took proactive measures by removing Jadran-Galeb's crest from its website in light of the controversy. Although the Croatian team is reportedly preparing to comply with Brighton's request to change their crest, it remains visible on their Facebook page, highlighting an ongoing resolution effort. The incident has elicited intrigue among fans and observers in both countries, as Brighton currently sits seventh in the Premier League and is set to play against Crystal Palace, while Jadran-Galeb is competing at the top of the Croatian third tier. The circumstances of the dispute highlight the intersection of sports branding and intellectual property rights in a global context.