This is an outrage!  I can’t believe Naruto lost his lawsuit!  Please excuse my outburst.  For those not familiar with Naruto’s legal battle, let me explain.  While taking photos of endangered monkeys in Indonesia, wildlife photographer David J. Slater left his camera unattended.  Feeling that Slater was not truly capturing his good side, one of the monkeys by the name of Naruto seized the opportunity to take a selfie.  This resulted in an iconic image of his smiling face, now known worldwide as the “Monkey Selfie.”  Believing Naruto deserved recognition for his artistry, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) filed a federal lawsuit on the monkey’s behalf.  Fast forward to January 6, 2016 when U.S. District Judge William Orrick announced that he will dismiss the case because federal copyright laws do not allow animals to claim copyright protection.  Geez, the judge could have at least let the monkey testify under oath before dismissing his case.

This is a monumental injustice to animals everywhere!  Social media is filled with accounts managed by dogs, cats, pigs and yes, even monkeys!  According to a 2013 study by PetPlan, 1 in 10 of all pets in the United Kingdom have their own Facebook page, Twitter account, or Youtube channel.  So how is it possible that in 2016 a U.S. District Judge can say we don’t own the rights to our selfies?  Oh sure, according to federal law photos must have an author to be copyrighted, and in the United States “author” translates into being human.  Thus animals can’t copyright their photos.  Clearly humans do not appreciate how difficult it is for dogs to take a selfie, what with our lack of thumbs and all.