Copyright, Federal Judges

Monkey See, Monkey Do? Not When It Comes To Copyright Law

Enough of this monkey business!

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on

While Congress and the president can extend the protection of law to animals as well as humans, there is no indication that they did so in the Copyright Act.

— Judge William Orrick of the Northern District of California, in comments made during a hearing yesterday involving Naruto, the crested macaque who shot a selfie using a wildlife photographer David Slater’s camera. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) filed suit on Naruto’s behalf, but Judge Orrick indicated that he didn’t think PETA could establish standing. Judge Orrick later said he planned to dismiss the case.

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