Naruto, the incredibly photogenic macaque monkey, got a hold of nature photographer David Slater's camera and shot off
a number of selfies. These photos quickly found an enthusiastic audience on the internet and have been shared countless times - but Naruto isn’t profiting from his self portraits.
PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) recently sued to have Naruto receive the proceeds from his photos, but the court ruled that copyright laws don’t apply to animals, even for self-created work like Naruto’s.
The court may not be on Naruto’s side, but David Slater can still lend a helping hand. It’s only fair for Naruto to benefit from his selfies, so please add your name and urge Slater to donate money earned from Naruto’s selfies to the Tangkoko Nature Reserve, where Naruto and his companions live. Dear Mr. Slater:
I appreciate your diligence as a wildlife photographer, and loved your series on Naruto the macaque and his companions at the Tangkoko Nature Reserve. However, I agree with PETA that Naruto's self portraits should benefit Naruto and his companions.
As you know, copyright laws give the photographer ownership of the photo, regardless of the circumstances surrounding the photo and who owns the camera. This is understandably an unusual circumstance, since Naruto is not human, but I believe it's only fair to donate the profits from Naruto's selfies back to the Tangkoko Nature Reserve so he can benefit from his self portraits.
[your comment here]
Thank you for considering this petition.
Sincerely,
[name]
