The Floating Pig Dispute: Roger Waters vs David Gilmour over Balloon Rights

The inflatable pig first appeared at Pink Floyd’s 1977 Animals tour and on the album cover, designed by Roger Waters. In the late 2000s, Waters trademarked the pig imagery for his solo tours, claiming it was his personal artistic symbol.

When David Gilmour and Nick Mason performed as Pink Floyd at the 2011–2013 charity shows, they raised a pig balloon with the band’s name. Waters objected, arguing the pig was his intellectual property and that using it without permission was a violation of his trademark. Gilmour countered that the pig had always been a band symbol, not Waters’ exclusive property, and that he had every right to use it as part of Pink Floyd.

The dispute wasn’t taken to court but became a public feud. Waters later admitted he felt “protective” of the pig; Gilmour said it was silly. The incident highlighted the deeper split over the meaning of Pink Floyd’s legacy.