Copyright problem with the Australian Aboriginal flag

This follows our October 2019 post in relation to the copyright issues involving the Australian Aboriginal Flag.

The Senate Select Committee on the Aboriginal Flag was formed on 3 September 2020 and is to report by 13 October 2020.

The Committee’s terms of reference are:

Current and former copyright and licensing arrangements for the Aboriginal flag design, with particular reference to:

(a)          who benefits from payments for the use of the Aboriginal Flag design and the impact on Aboriginal organisations, Aboriginal communities and the broader Australian community of the current copyright and licensing arrangements;

(b)          options available to the Government to enable the Aboriginal Flag design to be freely used by the Australian community, including:

(i)           negotiated outcomes with licence and/or copyright holders:

(ii)         the compulsory acquisition of licences and/or copyright,

(iii)       ways to protect the rights and interests of the flag’s legally recognised creator Mr. Harold Thomas; and

(c)          any other matters relevant to the enduring and fair use of the Aboriginal Flag design by the Aboriginal and Australian community.

Submissions can be made here until 18 September 2020:
http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/OnlineSubmission

See the Committee’s website for further information:
https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Aboriginal_Flag