Gorillas in Our Midst

In local news, a gorilla sculpture in Norwich painted as Freddie Mercury has been removed outside the Forum in the heart of the city: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-norfolk-23226366

The sculpture was part of a public art trail consisting of 53 life-size gorillas, created by Go Go Gorillas.

Lawyers acting for the Freddie Mercury estate have advised that the depiction of the distinctive yellow 'suit' worn by the gorilla breaches copyright.

The heavy-handed approach of the copyright holders raises interesting issues about how communities celebrate and express both their own local heritage and national history.  Many local people and tourists are enjoying the sculpture trail in the glorious Norfolk sunshine, but the dead-weight of intellectual property law has prevented a humorous sculpture from being enjoyed by the local community: local reaction has been overwhelmingly one of bemusement as to why such a sculpture, enjoyed by so many, has to be removed from public view.  

The art trail is also part of an effort to raise money for two charities: Break and the Born Free Foundation.    

Let's hope that the other gorillas can stay in place and that we won't have to say, "Another One Bites The Dust..."

And let's hope the blog-puns improve...