Monkeying Around: Pictures Monkeys Take Can’t be Copyrighted
Pictures taken by nonhumans do not qualify for copyright according to the U.S. Copyright Office’s updated rules and regulations, reports the ABA Journal.
The update is meant to help clarify the Copyright Office’s copyright protections policy and how it applies in this digital age. According to the ABA Journal, the office listed several real-life examples including photographs taken by monkeys, which refers to a current, ongoing legal case between British photographer David Slater and Wikimedia Commons.
Wikimedia Commons claims it can release pictures, including several selfies, taken by a monkey in Indonesia on Slater’s camera to the public for free without infringing on copyright.
The Copyright Office’s guidelines will remain under review until Dec. 15, though, before they officially take effect.
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