Use of the Australian Aboriginal flag and national flags
Hi, you may already be aware of this, but I thought I should note that the Australian Aboriginal flag (the one you use as 'Default') is, despite the death of its author, and despite being one of the Australian national flags, still under copyright. I don't think the copyright holders at this time pursue their copyright but I thought I should at least notify you.
Also, I am not entirely sure the use of national flags as defaults is appropriate, in many nations the use of either their, or any national flags is restricted in some ways, with severe penalties possible (eg. in some Arab nations). But I think this shouldn't really be an issue.
copyright schmopyright.... Not that I have any authority on the matter
Bears Armed
30-07-2008, 10:59
copyright schmopyright....
Considering that the RL UN threatened Max with a lawsuit to protect their copyright over the term 'United Nations' and its insignia, Netique could have a valid point here... but if dropping the existing set of flags meant that all players had to create customised ones themselves (or persuade other people to make ones for them) I suspect we'd see a serious decline in the number of players...
Haha mabye we should change the default flag to the Torres Strait Islander flag (It's the one that looks like Goatse)...
I'm sure the Aboriginals don't worry about getting copyright permission when they scratch the flag on train windows
Cookiton
30-07-2008, 11:46
Hmmm, it sounds like they should change it then. Or maybe the copyright holder saw it and didn't care.
To clarify, my main point is the use of the Aboriginal flag, the all-other-flags point I raised was just a side-thing.
About the Torres Strait flag, that's copyrighted too, Aus must be the only nation in the world some of whose national flags are copyrighted. :)
Call to power
30-07-2008, 12:18
the UN seems to be the only political body who bitches about these things (as noted by the lack of the UN in most games barring Civ)
Australia probably just went through a period when it realized it wasn't a real country and thought it was a corporation
Blouman Empire
30-07-2008, 12:34
Well neither the Aboriginal flag nor the Torres Straits Islander flag our official flags of Australia the official flag of Australia is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Australia.svg
Well neither the Aboriginal flag nor the Torres Straits Islander flag our official flags of Australia the official flag of Australia is http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Flag_of_Australia.svg
Actually, there are five other flags that have been proclaimed flags or ensigns of Australia under the Flags Act 1953: the Aboriginal Flag (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Aboriginal_Flag), the Torres Strait Islander Flag (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torres_Strait_Islander_Flag) , the Defence Force Ensign (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Defence_Force_Ensign), the Australian White Ensign (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_White_Ensign) and the Royal Australian Air Force Ensign (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Australian_Air_Force_Ensign). Not at the passing of the Act, mind you, but under the authority of Section 5 of the Act at various later dates.
Australia probably just went through a period when it realized it wasn't a real country and thought it was a corporation
Heh, that made me grin. Us aussies are now just waiting for that period to finish...
SalusaSecondus
30-07-2008, 15:30
If anyone has legal standing in this area, they may contact the administrators directly through official channels. Otherwise, I really don't see much value in the conversation. We have no intention of changing these flags based on this thread.