Copyright law can be complex, confusing and finicky, but here’s the general rule: if you did not create the thing, it isn’t yours. Which would be why Wikipedia refuses to take down some particularly photos by British nature photographer David Slater: because, technically speaking, the photos do not belong to him.
Technically , they’re owned by a monkey. This monkey, in particular:
Here’s the story: back in 2011, Slater was in Indonesia, setting up his camera in the hopes that he would catch an image of a crested black macaque. When he was finished , a crested black macaque did indeed arrive.
According to Slater, the monkey was curious of the camera, especially after he pressed the button once and discovered it made a noise. After that, the monkey proceeded to take hundreds and hundreds of selfies. Go you, monkey.
And therein lies the issue. Because Slater did not actually, physically take the photos, the images are not considered his, even though the equipment, the set-up, and the publication are. Thereby, Wikipedia is by no means obligated to take them down at his insistence. They’ve shot down all his removal requests to date, because as far as Wikipedia is concerned, the monkey pressed the shutter, and the monkey owns the copyright.
Aside from what he must have spent to get himself and all of his equipment to Indonesia in the first place, Slater has already spent $17,000 in legal fees for his right to the photos.
The monkey has yet to express an opinion.
Source Gizmodo
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