PRESS RELEASE: Aboriginal Flag – All is Not What it Appears

MEDIA RELEASE
27 JANUARY 2022
Carroll & Richardson Flagworld
For immediate release
ABORIGINAL FLAG
ALL IS NOT WHAT IT APPEARS
The recent announcement by the Commonwealth Government that they had secured the copyright to the design of Australian Aboriginal Flag from Mr Harold Thomas, extinguished some licences and that the flag was now freely available for public use has been seriously misinterpreted in media reporting and community reaction.
The exclusive licence to manufacture, promote, advertise, distribute the Aboriginal flag, banners, pennants and bunting has NOT been acquired by the Government. It remains in private hands and so flags, banners, pennants and bunting cannot be reproduced by anyone other than the exclusive licensee.
Individuals can make their own flag for personal use, but such flags cannot be sold or given away to others as this infringes the licence which is held by Carroll & Richardson Flagworld.
Carroll & Richardson Flagworld are NOT a party to the agreement announced by the Government nor the recipient of any money associated with that agreement, except to the extent that they will now pay royalties to the Government instead of paying those royalties to Mr Harold Thomas.
Carroll & Richardson Flagworld is and remains the EXCLUSIVE licensee for the manufacture, promotion, advertising and distribution of the Aboriginal flag, banners, pennants and bunting. Carroll & Richardson Flagworld will continue to protect this position and will take legal action against any parties found to be infringing the licence by including the copyright design in any flag, banner, pennant and/or bunting that such parties manufacture, import and/or sell.
Managing Director of Carroll & Richardson Flagworld, Mr Wayne Gregory said in a statement today “The Government’s announcement is misleading and confusing and does not “free the flag” except for its use on clothing, badges, pins etc or its reproduction in digital formats and on playing surfaces etc. The flag is NOT free to be manufactured by anyone other than the exclusive licensee, Carroll & Richardson Flagworld”.
Media Inquiries:
Wayne Gregory, Managing Director
M 0419587375