US: Court rules monkey lacks legal standing
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A federal appeals court in San Francisco has ruled that a monkey does not have legal standing to lodge a copyright claim against a nature photographer because he is not a person.
In 2011, British photographer David Slater was taking photos in Tangkoko reserve in Indonesia when crested macaque Naruto (pictured) allegedly swiped Mr Slater’s camera and took a few selfies. However, the photographer previously said in court that he coaxed the monkey into taking the photos.
He later published a book containing Naruto’s selfies, which prompted animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) to file a lawsuit saying that the monkey’s copyright had been violated.
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has now confirmed the decision of the lower court even though Mr Slater had settled the case last September by agreeing to donate 25 per cent of future revenue from Naruto’s images to the Tangkoko reserve.
As Mr Slater did not take the images, however, he does not hold the copyright in them. The US Copyright Office said they are not copyrightable.
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