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Court Enters Final Dismissal of “Monkey Selfie” Case

Posted by Nicholas O'Donnell on February 1, 2016 at 9:33 AM

As anticipated, the judge presiding over the “monkey selfie” copyright case has dismissed the complaint for copyright infringement brought by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), ostensibly on behalf of a crested black macaque that PETA named “Naruto.” This was all but a foregone conclusion after the Hon. William H. Orrick of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California announced at a hearing that he did not believe that the Copyright Act confers any standing on animals own copyrights or to sue for copyright infringement.

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Topics: Copyright, monkey selfie, Naruto, PETA

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About the Blog


The Art Law Report provides timely updates and commentary on legal issues in the museum and visual arts communities. It is authored by Nicholas M. O'Donnell, partner in our Art & Museum Law Practice.

The material on this site is for general information only and is not legal advice. No liability is accepted for any loss or damage which may result from reliance on it. Always consult a qualified lawyer about a specific legal problem.

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