The documents cover a range of cases, from celebrated works of Indigenous art in major national collections to the design of the Aboriginal flag. They provide particular insights into the vexed issue of reconciling claims for copyright protection with notions of traditional cultural protection under Aboriginal law. While a number of the cases resulted in reported judgments, the underlying evidence and materials give an impression of what the artists, their advisers and expert anthropologists wanted the Court to know about the significance of artworks sought to be protected.

The documents will hopefully provide a useful primary source reference base for those wishing to obtain a fuller understanding of what happened in a number of key cases involving claims of copyright in works of Aboriginal art.

Bulun Bulun v Nejlam

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Affidavit Charles Godjuwa

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Affidavit Diane Moon

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Affidavit Gordon Peter Bauman

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Affidavit John Mundine

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Affidavit Johnny Bulun Bulun

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Affidavit Jon Charles Altman

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Affidavit Katie Nowers

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Affidavit Kerry Steinberg

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Affidavit Lin Onus

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Affidavit Lyn Maree Hall

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Affidavit Margaret West

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Affidavit Maria Therese Bradshaw

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Affidavit Martin Hardie

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Affidavit Peter Cooke

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Affidavit Robin Ngainjmira

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Affidavit Wally Caruana

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Amended Release

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Applicant Submissions On Law

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Application

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Consent Orders

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Draft Affidavit Margie West

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Draft Affidavit Robin Ngainjmira

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Draft Release

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Interview Dick Kimber Handwritten

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Interview John Mundine

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Letter Presnden Re Milpurrurru

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Letters To Respondents

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Statement David Malangi 1988

1989 -RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Statement George Garrawun 1988

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Statement George Milpurrurru 1988

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Statement Mangalili Family

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Statement Of Claim And Application Jabaltjari And Nungoray V Beal

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Transcript Proceedings 9 August 1989

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Affidavit Malcolm John Beal 19 Feb 1990

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Affidavit Malcolm John Beal 28 Feb 1990

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Consent Orders Beal

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Correspondence Pursuing Agreed Payment 1989 1990

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Transcript Proceedings 20 February 1990

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Bulun Bulun V Nejlam Transcript Proceedings 26 February 1990

 

Bulun Bulun v R & T Textiles

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 R And T Textiles Application

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 R And T Textiles Defence To Statement Of Claim

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 R And T Textiles Statement Of Claim

1997 RECP Golvan 1906 R And T Textiles Affidavit Djardie Ashley

1997 RECP Golvan 1906 R And T Textiles Affidavit Howard Morphy

1997 RECP Golvan 1906 R And T Textiles Affidavit Jitendra Kumarage

1997 RECP Golvan 1906 R And T Textiles Affidavit John Bulun Bulun

1997 RECP Golvan 1906 R And T Textiles Affidavit Joseph P Reser

1997 RECP Golvan 1906 R And T Textiles Affidavit Martin Hardie

1997 RECP Golvan 1906 R And T Textiles Amended Application

1997 RECP Golvan 1906 R And T Textiles Consolidated And Amended Statement Of Claim

1997 RECP Golvan 1906 R And T Textiles Documents Re MATSIA Intention To Intervene

1997 RECP Golvan 1906 R And T Textiles Further Written Submissions

1997 RECP Golvan 1906 R And T Textiles MATSIA Draft Submissions

1997 RECP Golvan 1906 R And T Textiles Transcript Of Proceedings 22 Sept

1997 RECP Golvan 1906 R And T Textiles Transcript Of Proceedings 23 Sept

1998 RECP Golvan 1906 R And T Textiles Submissions In Reply To MATSIA

 

Milpurrurru v Indofurn Carpets

1993 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Amended Defence First Cross Respondent 3 December 1993

1993 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Amended Statement Of Claim 6 August 1993

1993 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Notice Admitting Facts 12 July 1993

1993 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Notice To Admit Facts 30 June 1993

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Allan William Newton

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Banduk Marika

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Belinda Scott 11 Feb 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Belinda Scott 15 July 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Brian Alexander Bethune 9 June 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Brian Alexander Bethune July 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Bruce Manatu Wangurra

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Daphne Williams

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Diana Moon

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit George Milpurrurru 7 May 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit George Milpurrurru 8 Feb 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Jayne Judith Cornuel

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Joanne McKenzie Bethune

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Michael McMahon 15 June 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Michael McMahon 29 March 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Peter Cooke

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Richard Andrew Crane

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Richard Crane

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Susan Cochrane

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Tim Payunka Tjapangati 10 November 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Tim Payunka Tjapangati 25 November 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Affidavit Vivien Johnson

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Amended Defence And Cross Claim Of First Respondent 3 June 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Assessment Of Conversion

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Defence And Cross Claim Second Defendant

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Further Affidavit Brian Alexander Bethune July 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Further And Better Particulars Of Loss And Damage

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Further Re-Amended Defence First Respondent 21 November 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Further Re-Amended Defence Second Respondent 21 November 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Minute Orders Interlocutory Injunction 25 November 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Re-Amended Defence Cross Claim First Respondent 22 July 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Reply Amended Defences Cross Claims First Second Respondents June 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Reply Amended Defence Third Respondent June 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Supplementary Affidavit Brian Alexander Bethune July 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Third Further Amended Application June 1994

1994 RECP Golvan 1906 Milpurrurru V Indofurn Third Further Amended Statement Of Claim June 1994

 

Morning Star Pole

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Defence

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Letter To Governor Reserve Bank Re Commemorative Note

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Statement Of Claim

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Affidavit Clely Yumbulul

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Affidavit Diana Ellen McIntyre

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Affidavit Gallurwuy Yunupingu

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Affidavit Ian Keen

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Affidavit Mandawuy Yunupingu

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Affidavit Mingi

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Affidavit Noel Edward Walter Greenslade

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Affidavit Terry Yumbulul

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Affidavit Terry Yumbulul 2 Feb

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Further Amended Statement Of Claim

1991 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Affidavit Andrea Elizabeth Gardiner 23 April

1991 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Affidavit Anthony Bryan Miles Wallis 15 March

1991 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Affidavit Anthony Bryan Miles Wallis 16 May

1991 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Affidavit In Opposition Andrea Elizabeth Gardiner 3 June

1991 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Affidavit Kate Khan

1991 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Affidavit Michael Roland Hall

1991 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Affidavit Peter Christopher Banki

1991 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Affidavit Roy Dadynga Marika

1991 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Affidavit Samuel Bardikupa Gurruwuwi

1991 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Correspondence Relating To Aboriginal Art And Copyright

1991 RECP Golvan 1906 Morning Star Pole Draft Affidavit Janette Gaynor Transcript

 

Neidjie v Davis

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Neidjie V Davis Affidavit Bill Neidjie

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Neidjie V Davis Defence To Further Amended Statement Of Claim

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Neidjie V Davis Further Amended Statement Of Claim

1990 RECP Golvan 1906 Neidjie V Davis Plaintiff Submissions

 

Thomas v Brown

1989 RECP Golvan 1906 Thomas V Brown Letter To Minister

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 Thomas V Brown Affidavit Amanda Boyle

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 Thomas V Brown Affidavit Andrew Rennie 11 October 1996

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 Thomas V Brown Affidavit Andrew Rennie 16 August 1996

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 Thomas V Brown Affidavit Anne Philomene McKinnon

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 Thomas V Brown Affidavit David George Brown

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 Thomas V Brown Affidavit Harold Thomas

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 Thomas V Brown Affidavit James Hudson Stanley

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 Thomas V Brown Affidavit Janet Isobel Karpany

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 Thomas V Brown Affidavit Kaylene Brown 23 July 1996

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 Thomas V Brown Affidavit Kaylene Jennifer Brown 14 October 1996

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 Thomas V Brown Affidavit Shirley Thomas

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 Thomas V Brown Outline Of Argument Of First Respondents

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 Thomas V Brown Statement Andrew Rennie 5 August 1996

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 Thomas V Brown Submissions On Behalf Of The Applicant

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 Thomas V Brown Supplementary Submissions On Behalf Of The Applicant

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 Thomas V Brown Transcript Of Proceedings Brown V Cth 24 July 1996

1996 RECP Golvan 1906 Thomas V Brown Transcript Of Proceedings Brown V Cth 25 July 1996

 

 Utopia Batik

2000 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Declaration David Ross

2000 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Declaration Jennifer Anne Green

2000 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Declaration Julia Murray

2000 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Declaration Lucky Morton

2000 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Declaration Myrtle Petyarre

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Affidavit Ada Bird Petyarre

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Affidavit Jan Ross Manley 1 June

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Affidavit Jan Ross Manley 6 June

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Affidavit Katie Rumble

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Affidavit Lena Pwerle

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Affidavit Lena Skinner Gnale

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Affidavit Mavis Penunga

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Affidavit Nora Petyarre

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Affidavit Roese Pwerle 1 June

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Affidavit Roese Pwerle 29 May

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Affidavit Rosie Kunoth Kngwarreye 1 June

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Affidavit Rosie Kunoth Kngwarreye 29 May

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Declaration April Haines Nungala

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Declaration Margaret M Turner OAM

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Declaration Rose Wallace

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Declaration Simon Turner

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Declaration Vicki Lynne Haddon

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Letter Evidence In Answer In Opposition Proceeding Index

2001 RECP Golvan 1906 Utopia Batik Statutory Declaration Jan Ross Manley 7 August