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Case Summary

Morford v. Cattelan

Morford v. Cattelan, 1:21-cv-20039 (S.D. Fla. Jan. 4, 2021); den. Def.’s mot. to dismiss, 1:21-cv-20039 (S.D. Fla. May 6, 2022); granting Pl.’s cross-mot. for summ. j., 1:21-cv-20039 (S.D. Fla. June 12, 2023); appeal filed, 23-12263-D (11th Cir. July 19, 2023).

Précis
This Florida federal case posed an unusual legal question: can a banana taped to a wall be art, and if so, is it copyrightable? California artist Joe Morford filed suit against Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan for copyright infringement of Morford’s sculpture, Banana & Orange, created nearly two decades earlier…






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