Earlier in the week we saw stories circulating about Ryan Gosling wearing a Ncuti Gatwa Doctor Who t-shirt on a film set. While the shirt looked cool it didn't meet our threshold for news.

But has become so courtesy of that shirt, which isn't licensed merchandise and was initially removed from sale at the insistence of the BBC, returning for sale.

On June 28 via Facebook, Cyberdevil Graphic Design posted:

Well this is a bit nuts! The Ryan Gosling wearing a fake t-shirt with my artwork in front of Ncuti Gatwa on set of Barbie. It’s incredible, ridiculous and mildly annoying all at the same time.

Who is Cyberdevil?

Someone who makes custom DVD covers for Doctor Who and claims:

No copyright infringement intended and please support official BBC Doctor Who DVD and Blu-Ray releases.

Turning a profit from a licensed property like Doctor Who is obviously an infringement but not one which damages the franchise or probably makes much money.

We would guess the BBC regarded it as trivial and harmless.

On June 28 via twitter Cyberdevil / Matthew Purchase posted:

As worn by Ryan Gosling! Sold by the artist! I've added my Ncuti Gatwa piece to Redubble, with watermark as worn by Ryan. As I don't own everything in the image approximately 50% of the proceeds I will make will go to The Goboka Rwanda Trust. https://redbubble.com/shop/ap/115097609

Why "approximately" 50%?

And of course people can claim that they will donate money to charity then not, eg. Amber Heard.

Via Instagram Russell T Davies has taken advantage of the free publicity and jokingly suggested that they'd sue:

This is, genuinely, Ryan Gosling wearing a t-shirt of Ncuti Gatwa as Doctor Who. We’re suing him, of course. Illegal merch.

On June 29 via Twitter Cyberdevil / Matthew Purchase posted:

The BBC have (rightly) taken down my artwork from Redbubble. I know this is not going to stop third party sellers, so I wonder if there is anyone I can contact at the BBC about this? The e-mail Redbubble gave me bounced. It's a shame the charity will lose out.

A takedown is exactly the response we'd expect.

And it's not just Matthew's artwork. It's unlicensed merchandise for a BBC property.

An attempt to publicly shame the BBC into a reversal because the charity would miss out?

Of that we are cynical.

At $45 (oz) each these shirts would also be netting him a tidy sum.

On June 30 a followup: 

It's now back online to buy. Hopefully we will be able to raise a good amount for charity.

Not the outcome we expected to one actor wearing a fan designed shirt and also interesting to see at the same time as announcement of a fan owned (funded by and profits going to) documentary about William Shatner.

Both cases of fans taking ownership of content but coming at it from very different directions.

[ Main Image: Ryan Gosling in Ncuti Gatwa as Doctor Who t-shirt. Credit: Ncuti Gatwa via Variety. ]

References

Cyberdevil. (watermarked) Ncuti Gatwa 14th Doctor - % to charity - By the original artist Graphic T-Shirt. Redbubble. (viewed July 1, 2022)

Cyberdevil Design - Official website. (viewed July 1, 2022)

Cyberdevil Doctor Who DVC Covers - Official website [ closed ]. (viewed July 1, 2022)

Cyberdevil Graphic Design (June 28, 2022). Well this is a bit nuts! Facebook.

Davies, Russel T. (June 28, 2022). This is, genuinely, Ryan Gosling wearing a t-shirt of Ncuti Gatwa as Doctor Who. Instagram.

Hibbs, James (June 30, 2022). Ryan Gosling's Ncuti Gatwa Doctor Who T-shirt is now available to buy. Radio Times.

Purchase, Matthew [@TheCyberdevil] (June 28, 2022). As worn by Ryan Gosling! Twitter.

Purchase, Matthew [@TheCyberdevil] (June 30, 2022). It's now back online to buy. Twitter.

Purchase, Matthew [@TheCyberdevil] (June 29, 2022). The BBC have (rightly) taken down my artwork from Redbubble. Twitter.

Siegel, Tatiana (May 15, 2022). Amber Heard, Elon Musk, and a Multimillion-Dollar Mystery. Rolling Stone.

The Goboka Rwanda Trust - Official Website. (viewed July 1, 2022)

Tingley, Anna (June 29, 2022). Ryan Gosling Wore This Ncuti Gatwa ‘Doctor Who’ Shirt on the Set of ‘Barbie’: Where to Buy Your Own. Variety.