There has been a major blow-up over claims by a private company
WAM Clothing that it controls the rights to reproduce the
Aboriginal flag on clothing. Cease and desist letters have been
sent to AFL, NRL and a number of indigenous not for profit
companies who have used the flag regularly for years for promotions
focused on indigenous issues.
Politicians and academics are weighing in. Aboriginal opinions
are divided – is the Aboriginal flag a community asset, or
the property of a proud Aboriginal man who should have all the
rights the law confers on property owners to do what they want with
their property?
So how can a person or a private company own the rights
to a national symbol and everything it represents for Indigenous
rights and Indigenous people?
