44:
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364:(NFT) to commemorate the 50th year of the flag. On 25 January 2022, after three years of negotiation, Thomas assigned the copyright of the flag to the Commonwealth of Australia, in a deal that makes it free for public use by anybody. He said he hoped that the democratisation of the flag would "provide comfort to all Aboriginal people and Australians to use the flag". In February 2022 it was revealed that the
340:
over its intended use of a 12-year-old
Australian girl's artwork incorporating the Australian Aboriginal flag into its logo. Thomas refused to allow Google to use the image featuring the flag after negotiations over compensation failed. Thomas claimed that Google had opened negotiations with a
344:
Thomas went on to give exclusive commercial rights to three companies, "one to reproduce flags, and the others to reproduce the image on objects and clothing". One of these companies, WAM Clothing, issued infringement notices to various organisations, including the
341:
request for free use of the flag and, while he allowed free use to non-commercial operations that gave health, educational, legal and other assistance to
Aboriginal people, he charged a fee to commercial operations.
155:. He was one of 13 children but the family did not all live under one roof as the children were taken from there at different stages. He remembers drawing and painting on pieces of paper from an early age.
266:
812:
246:. He changed his subject matter and style dramatically in 2016, when he started painting representations of Aboriginal people's first and subsequent contact with European colonisers, including the
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170:, where he lived until he was eleven and began been foster in the home of the Reverend Donald Wallace and his family. He attended an Adelaide independent school,
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181:, graduating with Honours in 1969, becoming the first Aboriginal person to graduate from an Australian art school. While there he studied
965:
304:
120:
1015:
1047:
329:, to assert copyright over his design. The outcome was that he was declared the copyright owner of the flag's design, according to
1312:
216:, working as a survey artist. This gave him access to a huge collection of Aboriginal artefacts as well as a wide range of art.
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On 14 July 1995 the flag was made an official "Flag of
Australia". In 1997 Thomas was involved in a high-profile case in the
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84:
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In 1991, he created a number of watercolour paintings for a set of limited prints to celebrate 20 years of the flag.
193:
teacher. In 1968 he held his first exhibition of watercolour paintings in
Adelaide, which was opened by then premier
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522:
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1313:"Rich artistic legacy of Aboriginal flag creator honoured with CDU doctorate | Charles Darwin University"
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1215:"Aboriginal flag 'colonised': senators in heated exchange over government's purchase of copyright"
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361:
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On 21 December 2021 Thomas created the authentic digital representation of the flag, minted as a
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152:
72:
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over his design was upheld by the
Federal Court, eventually transferring that copyright to the
419:
1105:"Football codes, Aboriginal designers told to stop using Aboriginal flag over copyright use"
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49:
1022:
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432:
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1055:
1246:. Retold by Barbara Ker Wilson. Illustrated by Harold Thomas Angus and Robertson Sydney
123:, and in 1995 it was made an official "Flag of Australia". After this, his assertion of
17:
224:
140:
1354:
1133:"Aboriginal flag quietly turns 50 amid last-minute date change and copyright dispute"
877:"The truth hurts – Harold Thomas wins award with Aboriginal art that is raw and real"
148:
68:
939:
902:"The man behind the iconic flag now free for all Australians: Who is Harold Thomas?"
1219:
846:"Harold Thomas wins $ 50,000 Indigenous art award with stolen generations painting"
405:
186:
1256:
719:
56:
commemorating the 30th anniversary of the
Australian Aboriginal flag, 8 July 2001
1016:"Federal Court declares Aboriginal artist owner of copyright in Aboriginal flag"
966:"Federal Court declares Aboriginal artist owner of copyright in Aboriginal flag"
295:(now NAIDOC) march. It was first flown at a land rights rally on 9 July 1971 in
243:
194:
1242:
1002:
Harold Joseph Thomas v David George Brown & James
Morrison Vallely Tennant
813:"Search for Pulteney Grammar student Terry, subject of Jeffrey Smart painting"
518:
508:
in recognition of his contribution to fine arts and
Aboriginal rights activism
235:
220:
694:"Harold Thomas Aboriginal artist. Works in the Northern Territory Australia"
549:
1021:(Press release). Australian Copyright Council. 9 April 1997. Archived from
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53:
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Thomas says he designed the flag in 1970 to lead a demonstration at the
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Ker Wilson, Barbara. & Bates, Daisy. & Thomas, Harold. 1972,
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446:
144:
1343:
927:
Telstra
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards 2016
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m to two non-Indigenous businesses who held licences to use the flag.
337:
115:
artist and former activist, known for designing and copyrighting the
1243:
Tales told to
Kabbarli: Aboriginal legends collected by Daisy Bates
392:, retold by Barbara Ker Wilson). He also did the illustrations for
386:
Tales told to Kabbarli: Aboriginal legends collected by Daisy Bates
271:
158:
At seven years old, he was removed from his family as part of the
459:; paintings administrators and chief ministers put on display at
267:
Telstra National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Art Awards
212:
In 1970 he was the first Aboriginal person to be employed at the
119:. He claims to have designed the flag in 1971 as a symbol of the
1290:
1286:"Harold Joseph Thomas (Bundoo) takes the 2016 Telstra Art Award"
940:"Official Status of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander flags"
452:
1985: work selected to hang in the 2nd NATSIAA award exhibition
131:
and making it freely available for public use in January 2022.
1160:"I created the Aboriginal flag as a symbol of unity and pride"
1103:
Higgins, Indigenous Affairs reporter Isabella (11 June 2019).
411:
In 1973-4 he produced and directed a mythological play called
242:, and started painting the landscape and wildlife, especially
276:
The Australian Aboriginal flag as designed by Harold Thomas.
200:
It was while he was studying that he became involved in the
620:"The boys from St Francis: an interview with Harold Thomas"
177:
In 1966, aged 17, Thomas won a scholarship to study at the
1187:"Free use of Aboriginal Flag secured for all Australians"
1079:"Google Doodle For Australia Day Missing Aboriginal Flag"
792:. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 25 January 2022
139:
Harold Joseph Thomas (Bundoo) was born in 1947 to a
90:
80:
61:
34:
1391:Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory
745:"Harold Thomas – Creator of the Aboriginal Flag"
593:Museum and Art Gallery of the Northern Territory
261:(of which he is a member,) won the top prize of
418:In 1995 he was chair of the Northern Territory
870:
868:
487:, selected as a finalist in the NATSIAA Awards
372:m to Thomas to assume copyright. it also paid
336:In 2010 Thomas was involved in a dispute with
219:His main artistic influences include painters
1005:FCA 215 (9 April 1997) Accessed 14 July 2013.
445:1984: work selected to hang in the inaugural
8:
1054:. Federal Court of Australia. Archived from
1401:People educated at Pulteney Grammar School
42:
31:
1411:21st-century Indigenous Australian people
1406:20th-century Indigenous Australian people
839:
837:
835:
394:Jagardoo: Poems from Aboriginal Australia
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605:
595:; “Bungalo Boy" purchased by the museum
1127:
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844:Cuthbertson, Debbie (5 August 2016).
811:Holderhead, Sheradyn (23 June 2013).
265:, the Telstra Art Award, in the 33rd
7:
1386:21st-century Australian male artists
1381:20th-century Australian male artists
780:
778:
776:
774:
772:
770:
613:
611:
609:
618:Sexton, Maddy (17 September 2020).
455:1987: official portrait artist for
1213:Allam, Lorena (18 February 2022).
1158:Thomas, Harold (25 January 2022).
25:
469:, Telstra Art Award, in the 33rd
1077:Moses, Asher (26 January 2010).
479:, a painting depicting the 1838
307:. In 1972 it was adopted by the
875:Harmon, Steph (6 August 2016).
751:. 25 March 2002. Archived from
591:1993: 10th NATSIAA exhibition,
305:Aboriginal land rights movement
121:Aboriginal land rights movement
1284:Nicol, Emily (5 August 2016).
179:South Australian School of Art
85:South Australian School of Art
27:Australian artist and activist
1:
1376:Australian Aboriginal artists
457:Northern Territory Government
388:(stories collected by author
189:who he remembered as being a
973:Australian Copyright Council
521:in Northern Territory, near
1192:Prime Minister of Australia
384:In 1972 Thomas illustrated
107:(born 1947), also known as
65:1947 (age 76–77)
1427:
975:. May 1997. Archived from
562:Views, Visions, Influences
540:Darwin, Northern Territory
287:Australian Aboriginal flag
284:
281:Australian Aboriginal flag
117:Australian Aboriginal flag
97:Australian Aboriginal flag
1165:The Sydney Morning Herald
1083:The Sydney Morning Herald
851:The Sydney Morning Herald
818:The Advertiser (Adelaide)
506:Charles Darwin University
496:Charles Darwin University
129:Commonwealth of Australia
41:
554:1990: group exhibition,
461:Parliament House, Darwin
331:Australian copyright law
135:Early life and education
18:Harold Thomas (activist)
1052:Annual Report 1996-1997
1048:"The Work of the Court"
786:"Who is Harold Thomas?"
502:Honorary Doctor of Arts
309:Aboriginal Tent Embassy
214:South Australian Museum
208:Art practice and career
566:Queensland Art Gallery
548:, Birukmarri Gallery,
441:University of Adelaide
426:Recognition and awards
277:
494:hung in the foyer of
404:(1994), a children's
303:, as a symbol of the
275:
253:In 2016 his painting
202:civil rights movement
113:Aboriginal Australian
982:on 27 September 2007
529:Selected exhibitions
517:Thomas has lived in
481:Myall Creek massacre
234:In 1972 he moved to
105:Harold Joseph Thomas
36:Harold Joseph Thomas
1319:. 20 September 2023
525:, since the 1990s.
477:Myal Creek Massacre
437:social anthropology
408:by Charlie Stream.
366:Morrison government
183:watercolor painting
48:Harold Thomas with
946:. 27 February 2016
587:Sydney Opera House
538:, Framed Gallery,
500:2023: received an
402:Kurkali the Lizard
362:non-fungible token
278:
259:Stolen Generations
160:Stolen Generations
153:Northern Territory
73:Northern Territory
1344:Harold Thomas art
908:. 25 January 2022
700:. 27 January 2022
585:1991: prints, at
582:, South Australia
574:1991: prints, at
420:Stolen Generation
353:, and Aboriginal
162:and was taken to
102:
101:
16:(Redirected from
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1058:on 28 March 2011
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492:Tribal Abduction
467:Tribal Abduction
449:award exhibition
375:
371:
264:
255:Tribal Abduction
229:Eugène Delacroix
172:Pulteney Grammar
164:St Francis House
93:
50:Jane Lomax-Smith
46:
32:
21:
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1265:. 10 April 2019
1257:"Harold Thomas"
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1028:on 16 June 2005
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624:Wakefield Press
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485:New South Wales
433:honorary degree
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301:South Australia
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168:South Australia
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81:Alma mater
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22:
15:
12:
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5:
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1396:Luritja people
1393:
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1383:
1378:
1373:
1371:Flag designers
1368:
1363:
1353:
1352:
1349:
1348:
1337:
1336:External links
1334:
1331:
1330:
1317:www.cdu.edu.au
1304:
1276:
1248:
1233:
1205:
1178:
1150:
1139:. 12 July 2021
1121:
1095:
1069:
1039:
1007:
993:
957:
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919:
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864:
831:
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766:
755:on 6 June 2014
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711:
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546:Northern Light
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413:Pelicans Dream
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285:Main article:
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225:Francisco Goya
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1366:Living people
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944:CRW Flags Inc
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724:Harold Thomas
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698:Harold Thomas
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513:Personal life
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323:Federal Court
319:
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248:frontier wars
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149:Alice Springs
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69:Alice Springs
64:
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55:
51:
45:
40:
33:
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19:
1321:. Retrieved
1316:
1307:
1295:. Retrieved
1289:
1279:
1267:. Retrieved
1260:
1251:
1241:
1236:
1224:. Retrieved
1220:The Guardian
1218:
1208:
1196:. Retrieved
1190:
1181:
1169:. Retrieved
1163:
1153:
1141:. Retrieved
1137:the Guardian
1136:
1112:. Retrieved
1108:
1098:
1086:. Retrieved
1082:
1072:
1060:. Retrieved
1056:the original
1051:
1042:
1030:. Retrieved
1023:the original
1010:
1001:
996:
984:. Retrieved
977:the original
972:
960:
948:. Retrieved
943:
934:
922:
910:. Retrieved
905:
896:
884:. Retrieved
881:The Guardian
880:
855:. Retrieved
849:
822:. Retrieved
816:
806:
794:. Retrieved
789:
757:. Retrieved
753:the original
748:
739:
727:. Retrieved
723:
720:"The Artist"
714:
702:. Retrieved
697:
627:. Retrieved
623:
561:
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545:
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491:
476:
466:
417:
412:
410:
406:picture book
401:
393:
385:
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359:
343:
335:
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290:
269:(NATSIAAs).
254:
252:
244:watercolours
238:, nearby to
233:
218:
211:
199:
187:Reg Campbell
176:
157:
138:
108:
104:
103:
92:Notable work
29:
1361:1947 births
1297:19 February
1269:19 February
1226:19 February
1198:16 February
950:16 February
704:19 February
422:Committee.
396:(1977), by
390:Daisy Bates
355:non-profits
195:Don Dunstan
143:father and
75:, Australia
1355:Categories
1171:25 January
796:25 January
600:References
519:Humpty Doo
398:Jack Davis
380:Other work
327:High Court
236:Humpty Doo
221:Caravaggio
147:mother in
550:Fremantle
536:New Works
439:from the
263:A$ 50,000
191:eccentric
125:copyright
1109:ABC News
906:ABC News
886:6 August
857:7 August
824:1 August
790:ABC News
580:Adelaide
576:Tandanya
570:Brisbane
471:NATSIAAs
370:A$ 13.75
325:and the
313:Canberra
297:Adelaide
111:, is an
54:Adelaide
1262:AustLit
1143:13 July
1114:11 June
1088:15 July
1062:4 April
1032:4 April
986:15 July
759:15 July
556:Balance
534:1986:
447:NATSIAA
145:Luritja
1323:21 May
912:21 May
729:21 May
629:21 May
560:1990:
544:1987:
523:Darwin
490:2017:
475:2017:
465:2016:
431:1971:
400:, and
374:A$ 6.3
338:Google
240:Darwin
185:under
141:Wombai
109:Bundoo
1026:(PDF)
1019:(PDF)
980:(PDF)
969:(PDF)
504:from
368:paid
293:NADOC
166:, in
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