Page 10 - Amateur Photographer - August 5, 2017

Viewpoint In next week’s issue

Nigel Atherton On sale Tuesday 8 August

Under US law, the copyright of a photo belongs
to whoever took it, not the camera’s owner. But © STEVE COLE/HISTORIC ENGLAND
what if the person is an animal? The answer
could profoundly aff ect wildlife photography

he legal dispute currently going clear that its motive goes beyond mere
through the US courts over the copyright law. It takes issue with the fact
ownership of the ‘Monkey that, by photographing animals without
T Selfi e’ is so farcical that it their consent and making money from
sounds like a Monty Python sketch. But it is them, Slater is exploiting them. By
no laughing matter for the photographer, extension this charge must apply to all
David Slater. Back in that Indonesian jungle, wildlife photographers, as well as the likes
when Slater fi rst saw that now famous of David Attenborough and the BBC
image that he had, through skill, patience, Wildlife Unit. Of course as an employee of
and coaxing, coerced a macaque into PETA, its spokesperson also makes
taking of itself, he could scarcely have money from animals without their consent,
imagined how much trouble it would cause but this irony wasn’t pointed out to her.
him, fi rst with Wikipedia and now with PETA It’s a real shame that with so many real
(People for the Ethical Treatment of problems faced by the world’s animals,
Animals), who have brought this case. such as cruelty and loss of habitat, PETA
At the core of the argument is whether, chooses to frivolously fritter away its
if an animal takes its own picture, it is public donations on paying lawyers to fi ght
legally the owner and copyright holder of for the right of animals to own copyright. Capturing
it. If so, then not only does Slater not own Meanwhile conservation photographers
his macaque photos but neither would such as Slater devote their energies to
photographers behind any photos taken way, by raising awareness of their plight the past
helping wildlife in a much more useful
using remote camera triggers. It’s a
ridiculous argument since animals have no and encouraging their conservation. In the
concept of what a photo even is, let alone past few months alone tens of thousands
what to do with the copyright of one. of pounds has been raised by two books We reveal the tricks of the
You may also reasonably ask why, since of wildlife photography, Remembering
Slater is British, and the monkey is Rhinos and Remembering Elephants, both trade for shooting historic
Indonesian, what this has to do with the of which were featured in AP. I hope that buildings inside and out
US? Well it seems that, when the internet as a result of this case AP readers will
is involved, the whole world is now at the avoid donating to this group of lunatics
mercy of the whims and greed of the and attention seekers and will instead
American legal system. support more worthy animal and wildlife
Last weekend I watched David Slater charities, of which there are many.
debating on Sunday Morning Live with a Read our interview with David Slater on
representative from PETA UK, and it was page 8. The monkey declined to comment.
THE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS COLUMN ARE NOT NECESSARILY THOSE OF AMATEUR PHOTOGRAPHER MAGAZINE OR TIME INC. (UK)
Steve Winter won Wildlife Photographer
of the Year 2008 with this rare image of
a snow leopard, taken using a remote
camera trigger. Should the leopard own
the copyright to this image? © STEVE WINTER/WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR

Leica TL2 review
The latest stylish update to Leica’s
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10 5 August 2017 I www.amateurphotographer.co.uk I subscribe 0330 333 1113