Over decades, a certain type of silent annoyance develops. In 1997, James Kanfoush painted a large, colorful mural for Primanti Bros. that honored Pittsburgh‘s sports icons for less than $1,000. There was no signed contract. Nothing was set in stone by a formal agreement. When he completed the piece in 2000, he signed it Jimmy Kanfoush, incorporating his name and contact details. He even gave it the title “The Real City of Champions.”
For many years, the mural was located in Downtown’s Market Square, a piece of Pittsburgh culture that locals likely passed by without really considering who created it. When it comes to art that is visible to the public, that is typically the case. People take it in without questioning its origins.
Then, in March 2024, Kanfoush found copies of his mural hanging in two additional Primanti Bros. locations: one in Grove City and one in Cranberry Township. The lawsuit, which was filed in a Pittsburgh federal court, claimed that the replicas were digital copies of the hand-painted original. The original work had been altered to remove his name and contact details.
It’s difficult to ignore that detail for even a brief moment. The name was eliminated. For whatever reason, that is a serious omission. An artist’s signature on a piece of art is a declaration of authorship and a link to the creator; it is not ornamental. Things change when you cut that thread.
Four defendants were named in a cease-and-desist notice sent by Kanfoush in May 2024: Primanti Bros. Restaurant Corp., Primanti Bros. Administrative Service Co., Cranberry Food Associates Inc., and Leesburg Food Service Inc. The mural was eventually removed from the Grove City location. The Cranberry Township location was still up as of the lawsuit’s filing.
Primanti Bros. is accused in the lawsuit of breaking both copyright law and the Visual Artists Rights Act, a federal statute that safeguards artists’ rights to integrity and attribution even after ownership of a physical work shifts. With effect from August 2025, Kanfoush’s copyright was registered with the U.S. Copyright Office. “It’s always unfortunate when artists don’t get paid for their artwork,” stated Louis Kroeck, Kanfoush’s attorney, in a measured but direct statement. The lawsuit contends that he held that right all along because he worked as an independent contractor without a written contract transferring ownership. From the artist’s perspective, this situation seems simple, which is likely reflected in that restraint.
Primanti Bros. responded succinctly and thoughtfully. A company representative, Ryan Wilkinson, stated that the company “respects the incredible effort and dedication it takes to create art” and affirmed that they are looking into the situation. It’s the type of statement that sounds like it says a lot but actually says very little. It’s still unclear if that caution is a sign of a willingness to reach a settlement or just the instinct of a business dealing with ongoing litigation.
The larger pattern that this case represents is unmistakable. Artists frequently find themselves in unofficial agreements that expose them legally, especially muralists and illustrators who collaborate with local businesses. At the time, a small check and a handshake might seem like a good deal. If the work is replicated or further commercialized years later, there is frequently no backup documentation.
According to Kanfoush’s lawsuit, the business used his artwork to “enhance their brand identity, decor and customer experience,” profiting from a piece he made for less than $1,000. That framing is important. It shifts the focus of the narrative from a straightforward copy dispute to the question of who makes money off of creative labor and whether or not the original creator is ever involved.
According to Kanfoush, Primanti Brothers sandwiches are his favorite. Even though it is a small detail, it adds a sense of genuine complexity to the entire situation. This is not an outsider targeting a local establishment. It’s a person who helped shape that institution’s identity and is requesting recognition for it after a protracted wait.
