Learn more about the copyright status of the Aboriginal flag:
ABC News report that is a helpful primer: 2mins
   • New licence owners of Aboriginal flag...  

Check out the Free the Flag Movement here: (including petition with over 75k signatures)
https://clothingthegap.com.au/pages/f...

Interview with Harold Thomas (designer of the flag): 25mins
https://caama.com.au/news/2019/harold... )

Australia has lots of flags! From time to time, mishaps happen. They can be small things like erroneously describing the size of a star, or really important things like declaring an official flag without acquiring the intellectual property rights. This has resulted in a tricky situation in Australia, where the Aboriginal flag is under copyright, and exclusively licensed. If this feels wrong to you, check out the links above to learn more!


Credits
Torres Strait Islander Flag designed by Bernard Namok
Aboriginal Flag of Australia designed by Harold Thomas
(reproduced for the purpose of talking about news and ongoing events)

Below pictures sourced from the listed photographers at https://www.flickr.com and licensed under CCBY 2.0
Aboriginal and Torres Strait flags against grey sky: Newtown grafitti
Aboriginal flag with metal bars: Newtown grafitti
Aboriginal flag mural: Newtown grafitti
Aboriginal flag at rally: julian meehan
Aboriginal flag at Flinders St: julian meehan
Aboriginal flag on building: Ed Dunens
Aboriginal flag with church in background: picsbyclive
Aboriginal flag on Sydney Harbor Bridge: Mary and Andrew

Photo of Harold Thomas: CCBYSA 3.0 Bahudhara WikiMedia Commons


Sources

ACCC ruling on Birubi Art CCBY3.0:
https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release...

US Copyright refusing Tommy Hilfiger:
https://www.copyright.gov/rulings-fil...

Below sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation on 5/6/20. CCBY 4.0. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au

Current Flags act 1953:
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Detail...

Flags Act 1954 amendment:
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Detail...

Re-declaring the Aboriginal Flag 2008:
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Detail...

Aboriginal Flag explanatory statement 2008:
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Detail...

Re-declaring the Torres Strait Islander Flag 2008:
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Detail...

Torres Strait Islander Flag explanatory statement 2008:
https://www.legislation.gov.au/Detail...

Scans of original documents courtesy of Museum of Australian Democracy:
Flags Act 1953 original:
https://www.foundingdocs.gov.au/item-...

Federal Court Ruling of 1997 awarding Copyright to Thomas available here:
http://www8.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/vi...


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