The Australian government has bought over the copyrights of the Aboriginal flag.

The state justified its decision saying it was done to free the symbol of identity from bitter fights over who can use it. The Australian government paid more than 14 million US-dollars (R214 million) to secure the copyright from Indigenous artist Harold Thomas, who created the flag in 1971 as a protest image.

This means that the Aboriginal flag can now be reproduced by anyone without the fear of being legally threatened. Despite this, the Aboriginal people have accused the Australian government of holding their symbol hostage and limiting its display.