Australia's government has bought the rights the Aboriginal flag. This means anyone can now use or fly the flag free. The flag was owned its designer Harold Thomas and a clothing company. This meant that anyone who used the flag had to get copyright permission them. The $20-million deal to take ownership the flag's copyright means the public can use it freely. Nova Peris, a former Aboriginal politician, led the Free the Flag campaign. She was overjoyed that the government bought the Aboriginal flag. She said: "The flag represents 50,000 years history and it's a way unifying...this country." She added: "It's a magical day all Australians."
Indigenous artist Harold Thomas created the flag 1971. He wanted all Australia's indigenous people to have their own flag. His flag was originally used as a protest indigenous rights. However, it soon became widely used and became an official national flag Australia in 1995. It now flies government buildings. A government spokesperson said: "Over the last 50 years, we made Harold Thomas' artwork our own. We marched the Aboriginal flag, stood it, and flew it high as a point pride." He added: "In reaching this agreement to solve the copyright issues, all Australians can freely display and use the flag to celebrate indigenous culture."
