Judge rules monkey cannot own photo copyright

A federal judge has ruled that Naruto, the monkey that swiped photographer David Slater’s camera and snapped a selfie, cannot own the intellectual property rights to the photos.

PETA represented Naruto in the case brought against Slater and his self-publishing platform, Blurb of San Francisco. It sought, on behalf of Naruto, monetary damages for copyright infringement.

But its pleas fell on deaf ears. U.S. district Judge William Orrick said that he would dismiss the case. However, he said that such an issue would be a matter “for Congress and the president.” He added, “If they think animals should have the right of copyright they're free, I think, under the Constitution, to do that."