Why is the copyright such an issue? Does this one picture really have that much $$$$$ potential?
yup... in theory. If its being used all around the world by different papers, media outlets then it really ought to have netted him a decent sum - each publication should be paying him each time they print/make use of it. (assuming he is considered to be the copyright owner - no idea on the legal position but morally the fact the monkey pushed a button seems to be a technicality... the photographer put a lot of work into setting the whole scenario up)