Australia Messed Up These Flags 3 Times

Learn more about the copyright status of the Aboriginal flag:
ABC News report that is a helpful primer: 2mins
• New licence owners of ...
Check out the Free the Flag Movement here: (including petition with over 75k signatures)
clothingthegap...
Interview with Harold Thomas (designer of the flag): 25mins
caama.com.au/n... )
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 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:
www.accc.gov.a...
US Copyright refusing Tommy Hilfiger:
www.copyright....
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 www.legislatio...
Current Flags act 1953:
www.legislatio...
Flags Act 1954 amendment:
www.legislatio...
Re-declaring the Aboriginal Flag 2008:
www.legislatio...
Aboriginal Flag explanatory statement 2008:
www.legislatio...
Re-declaring the Torres Strait Islander Flag 2008:
www.legislatio...
Torres Strait Islander Flag explanatory statement 2008:
www.legislatio...
Scans of original documents courtesy of Museum of Australian Democracy:
Flags Act 1953 original:
www.foundingdo...
Federal Court Ruling of 1997 awarding Copyright to Thomas available here:
www8.austlii.ed...
I'm on Twitter: / tickettoknow

[@SpaghettiRoad]

This is really interesting! Great video.

[@TicketToKnow]

Thanks! I thought it was really interesting too, glad some others agree.

[@AverytheCubanAmerican]

Interesting! The Aboriginal flag is also the default flag on NationStates. I like the Torres Strait flag. Imagine if the main Aussie flag had a laser Emu to counter NZ’s laser kiwi

[@Freak80MC]

Some random guy holding a copyright over a flag, which is supposed to represent all Aboriginals, jesus fucking christ. Honestly this is why NO flag should allowed to be under copyright, the whole point is they represent huge groups of people and to put it under copyright... goes against that very notion in the first place. It's a paradox, if you're under copyright, yet claim to represent a group, yet it being under copyright means said group can't legally recreate it or sell designs of it or anything... Those two don't go together AT ALL. Reminds me of a debacle (not sure if it's still going on, I don't follow it, it's stupid anyway) where this company tried to claim it created the bisexual flag (even though it didn't) and tried to stop people from using it. And I'm like... That flag represents me, and here is this group I don't even fucking know trying to claim to speak for me and trying to tie down it's use to only certain things, and say that it owns it, which being a graphical representation of an entire group, seems to suggest they are saying they are the one true source to speak for this whole group, when the whole point is it's supposed to be for ALL of us who are bi. Some group you don't even know about claiming to speak on behalf of you and the entire group you belong to, all because they snatched at the copyright for that graphical representation of your group first. Despicable.

[@chileo1]

He invented it, would you like to create something then have it seized from you?

[@stephenberry8658]

@@chileo1 The copyright was acquired years after it was made an official national flag and extensive use. He had licenced its use to a guy who used it on souvenirs made in Indonesia. It came to a head when Aboriginal non profit organisations were charged a copyright fee for using an official national flag. The $20 million was obscene. All around shameful process poorly handled by the government and copyright owner.

[@OnkelJajusBahn]

That is really fucked up, having to ask for permission to wave your own flag. I understand that you have the national seal or coat of arms protected, so you can recognize easily if a document is issued by the government. But having to ask a private person, if you can use a flag that shoud represent your people is really fucked up. But very interresting video. I am very glad I found your great channel.

[@achitophel5852]

It is the Union Flag, not the Union Jack. i lost interest at that point. there is no such thing as the Aboriginal Flag, it is a banner adopted by Aborigines and their supporters.

[@miguelmontenegro3520]

Wait what? What is the sense in having to re-proclaim your own internal flags?

[@SOS_JA]

Try to tell these flags apart 🇦🇺 🇳🇿

[@akjvoksn]

Left is Australia right is New Zealand

[@akjvoksn]

It's pretty easy because the Australian flag has the southern cross underneath the Union Jack and the 2 flags are different shades of blue

[@WerezerRoo]

Nope they look the same only color difference

[@ponzblueaganus0405]

​@@WerezerRooAustralia has the Commonwealth Star and an extra star in the southern cross, while new Zealand doesn't

[@mikespearwood3914]

Easy: Australia has white stars, five stars in the southern cross formation, and the federation star on the left hand side. Completely different to the red stars, four southern cross stars, and no star on the left hand side of the NZ flag.

[@stephenberry8658]

Govt paid $20 million to Harold Thomas to release his copyright. $2 million would have been plenty.

[@haydencharles4231]

This is a great video, Maybe this video need to be updated? The flag was freed in Januaray 2021

[@SupremeLeaderKimJong-un]

The Aussies should adopt the green and yellow as their new flag

[@Minikin1]

Don't you mean "Red band and Blue caps with White lines and a red star"?

[@FrancoFluence]

Green and Gold*

[@lightningfun6486]

No our flag is good

[@angieroxy7550]

@@Minikin1 North Korea?

[@angieroxy7550]

@@lightningfun6486 Yeah which one ??? We've got like Three! It should be One! 😅😅

[@stephenberry8658]

We have the flag of another country in the Canton - the place of honour. The Southern Cross is subservient. Our National Flag received Royal Ascent in 1954, 53 years after the flag competition for Federation in 1901. Technically it is a British Blue Ensign Defaced By Stars...

[@ahuman2879]

🦘🇦🇺🐨

[@alexsiderov274]

Our treatment of Aboriginal and Torres Straight islanders always has and always be the greatest stain on our country

[@mikespearwood3914]

Why, what did you do Alex?

[@saneman8147]

What lot of crap!

[@yggdrasil2]

​@@saneman8147Because past creates the present.

[@AlejandroFlores-vi8tl]

Wait what was that flag at 1:55

[@TicketToKnow]

That is the Tommy Hilfiger 'flag' logo that the US refused to protect under copyright. I'll link the description with more info, its interesting!

[@retf8977]

Tommy Hilfiger logo.

[@stephenberry1205]

The Sunburnt Flag makes mates of our flags with 2 elements of Nature from each flag with the Rising Sun of the Aussie ANZACs at its heart over the split (Military & Indigenous) blood / Spirit of the Red Earth. After too many years in the Aussie Sun the Union Jack has melted into the colours of the Earth, the Sky and the Stars. Inspired by Cathy Freeman. Southern Cross in the Place of Honour shining over the Sunburnt Country with the Sun as the Giver of Life at its Heart and the Spirit of the Land as its Foundation.

[@arunodayrai1503]

Hi from India🇮🇳

[@yamnueva2932]

black,yellow,red this is the color of true australia not blue it is brittish

[@mrgroucho5112]

no!

[@WerezerRoo]

I agree

[@lxishv7085]

YESSSSSSSS

[@lewenday]

no there was no flag before the british came

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

@@lewenday That's correct. But of course when droughts, floods or wildfires ravaged the land the inhabitants starved to death (or ate their neighbours and family!) Not sure any of today's activists are rooting for a return to those good old traditional days? 😒 There's film somewhere of some of the last tribal aboriginals staggering out from a traditional life in the Central Australian Deserts. The only difference between them and the folks liberated from Auschwitz and Bergen-Belsen were the scraps of clothing! 😱

[@Victoryismine200]

Just fly one flag folks it’s not hard we’re all Australians period. Regardless, what you Commies feel and a footnote to that they are not the national symbol of Australia but rather protest symbols, they are great symbols and full of meaning but it’s not the national symbol of Australia like I said earlier on. We should all be under the Australian flag as all Australians. It doesn’t matter what your background is, many migrants flee from war torn countries to live life in Australia and they wave the flag very proudly to become ordinary every day Aussies just the same as everyone else.

[@simonabunker]

Then it probably shouldn't be a flag with another country's flag in the corner. Australia should really make a new one.

[@Victoryismine200]

@@simonabunker well, the reason why we have the Union Jack is because it recognises our first settlers in Australia Australia, the British settled the nation and built this country, and then all the other colonies from France, Italy, Germany, China, Serbia, and even the Dutch off they visited long before the British when they returned back to Australia, the point being all the other European and Asian colonies coming to Australia and building Australian nation. The reason why we have that British flag is because we recognise our first settlers

[@simonabunker]

@@Victoryismine200 we don't have to though. Canada has a similar history and has a great flag. That history wouldn't be lost by having a truly unique flag.

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

@@simonabunkerYep. Make it truly recognizably Australian. Maybe a Kangaroo boxing a Crocodile while having a Taipan chewing on his leg! 🤔🙄😱

[@MuammarQadaffi]

If I was an aboriginal I certainly wouldn't be proud of it considering their "practices" that thankfully died out.

[@daddyleon]

0:12 haha the official document was corrected??

[@MacMyKitty]

how can Australians be proud of that flag that contains the Union Jack..ewww

[@247micko]

Because most of us of British descent & are not ashamed of that fact.

[@nznative6615]

Britain sent their criminals on a ship to Australia in the 1800s. It’s why they got so many BOGANS 🤣🤣🤣

[@jordanklingsporn763]

​@@247mickoisn't the flag meant to represent everyone though. Not just those of a certain heritage?

[@rabbidcrazy787]

No ewww! The flag looks awesome the way it is. Hawaiians also have the union jack in their flag & they like it.

[@rabbidcrazy787]

​@@jordanklingsporn763Yes

[@SantaFe19484]

The first time I ever heard of flags being copyrighted.

[@CommunistCreeper]

That’s an oof

[@BradGryphonn]

If not for iWrocker, I may never have found your channel

[@yianniathanasopoulos]

Why do we need 3 national flags! Really? Wake up Australia

[@theoztreecrasher2647]

Well Australia is a bit of an Animal Farm. Some Napoleons just want to be a little more equal than others!

[@rabbidcrazy787]

The current flag is too cool to give up tbh

[@anirudhkumar4507]

They're not a British Colony anymore, they should ditch the Union Jack! ❎🇬🇧❎

[@JJaqn05]

Hawaii has a Union Jack in their flag. And they were never a colony. Just because they have the Union Jack doesn't mean they are still a colony. They are part of the commonwealth. And it's up to them whether they want to keep the flag or not. Right now there is no point in changing it.

[@rabbidcrazy787]

I disagree. Hawaii has one in their flag & they were never even a colony unless you count being under USA rule as being a colony. The Australian flag looks too cool to be replaced in my opinion.

[@iandodds3218]

Union flag its only a union jack when flown at sea

[@Datch18]

Cool video

[@danielaspinall9314]

I’m an Australian sitesan and I find this afensiv

[@multimedia013]

do u really wana see hand made Australia flag With stones and real pearl 😍Its Amazing You have never seen before

[@multimedia013]

do u really wana see hand made Australia flag With stones and real pearl 😍Its Amazing You have never seen before

[@zeshanmajeed7492]

Looks like father of Australia (Britain) designed their flag with union jack on it. Australia is a sovereign country now but they still want to be pet of Britain. And are licking USA shoes recently. Australian flag which has circle in center of it is so beautiful

[@jamespickering9705]

You had an image of the so called "Australian national emblem". That is incorrect. It is the lion and the unicorn (like British emblem). The kangaroo and emu is a fake emblem and should not be upheld.

[@k4ngk0ng74]

If we are a Commonwealth how could they have removed the crown?

[@nuggetnelson2865]

Only one flag 🇦🇺👍

[@nznative6615]

Get your country owned copyrighted... Australia is good at stealing franchise and logo idears

[@TasmanAbo]

GONDWANA FLAG DESIGN © 1994 coming soon ☀️