Photographer Wins ‘Monkey Selfie’ Legal Fight
Naruto the macaque monkey took the image in the Indonesian jungle in 2011 when it picked up a camera owned by David Slater from Monmouthshire.
US judges had said copyright protection could not be applied to the monkey but Peta said the animal should benefit
Peta’s appeal on the “monkey’s behalf” was dismissed but Mr Slater has agreed to donate 25% of any future revenue.
In a joint statement from Peta and Mr Slater, it said the photographer will give a quarter of the funds he receives from selling the monkey selfies to registered charities “dedicated to protecting the welfare or habitat of Naruto”.
“Peta’s groundbreaking case sparked a massive international discussion about the need to extend fundamental rights to animals for their own sake, not in relation to how they can be exploited by humans,” said Peta lawyer Jeff Kerr.
Mr Slater, of Chepstow, said he put in a lot of effort which was more than enough for him to claim copyright.
But appeal judges at a court in San Francisco ruled in Mr Slater’s favour after a two-year legal fight.
In the joint-statement between Peta and Mr Slater, they say this case “raises important, cutting-edge issues about expanding legal rights for non-human animals”.
