Bananas For Copyright Law: Who Owns Pictures Snapped by Monkeys?

Written By Tamera H. Bennett

Did you know that US Copyright Law and British Copyright Law do not grant copyright protection to works that "are not originated by humans?"  Hum, what does that really mean?  It might just mean that the photographs taken by a clever macaque monkey after it commandeered  the human photographer's camera are in the public domain. This post from Tech Dirt raises the issue of copyright ownership in the photos and raised the fur of the Carter's News Agency who claim they now control the images.  The comments to the Tech Dirt post, and the serious (sometimes seriously funny) comments of Gordon Firemark and Tamera Bennett in Episode 23 of the Entertainment Law Podcast provide some food for thought on this issue.

Tamera H. Bennett

Tamera H. Bennett is a wife, mom, lawyer, mediator, blogger, podcaster, and legal writer. For two decades she’s helped clients protect what they create by practicing trademark, copyright and entertainment law in Texas and Tennessee.

Tamera has co-hosted more than 85 episodes of the Entertainment Law Update Podcast since 2009. And, she’s been honored to write for BILLBOARD magazine and the TEXAS LAWYER.

In the summer of 2015, Tamera backpacked 100 miles over 10 days with her son's Boy Scout Troop. Tamera walked her first half-marathon in 2012 and walked the Cowtown Half Marathon in February 2016 and February 2017 with a PR each time. You can visit Tamera’s blog at createprotect.com and follow her on Twitter @tamerabennett.

http://www.tbennettlaw.com
Previous

Texas No Longer Regulates Talent Agencies
Next

Y.M.C.A. -- Spells Copyright Termination