“The Flag represents the timeless history of our land and our people’s time on it. It carries the message that there is a uniting symbol and voice for all Indigenous people.” – Harold Thomas
Corrs had the great privilege of acting for proud Aboriginal man and distinguished artist Harold Thomas, the owner of the copyright in the Australian Aboriginal Flag, on the deal to assign copyright in the Flag to the Commonwealth.
Announced by the Prime Minister on 25 January 2022, at the essence of this deal is an acknowledgement by Mr Thomas and the Commonwealth of the Indigenous communities at the heart of the Flag’s accrued national and unparalleled significance.
The timing of the deal is significant, falling on the 50th anniversary of the Flag’s creation and its raising at the Tent Embassy in Canberra. In handing over custodianship of the Flag to the Commonwealth, Mr Thomas said: “It is now freed up to be used by all Australian people, and this allows the Aboriginal Flag to breathe a new life in itself.”
Corrs acted pro bono alongside Colin Golvan AM QC after he represented Mr Thomas in the Federal Court case that established Mr Thomas’ ownership of copyright in the Aboriginal Flag. We also worked with Mr Thomas to mint a non-fungible token (NFT) of the work. Mr Thomas will retain his moral rights in the Flag, and will retain the NFT on behalf of Indigenous communities.
