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Copyrights Intellectual Property Litigation

One Banana, Two Banana: Can a Banana Taped to a Wall Be Copyright Protected Art?

On July 7, 2022, the Southern District of Florida denied a motion to dismiss in Morford v. Cattelan, which began by posing the following question: “Can a banana taped to a wall be art?”

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On July 7, 2022, the Southern District of Florida denied a motion to dismiss in Morford v. Cattelan, 2022 WL 2466775 (S.D. Fla. July 7, 2022), which began by posing the following question: “Can a banana taped to a wall be art?” At issue was a claim by artist Joe Morford that his sculptural diptych, “Banana & Orange,” allegedly created in 2000 and shown at left below, was infringed by a work titled “Comedian” by internationally famous artist Maurizio Cattelan, shown at right below. Both works prominently feature a banana affixed to a wall with silver duct tape, though plaintiff’s banana is plastic and defendant’s is overripe:

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