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Aborigines claim kangaroo copyright

29 January, 2002 - In Australia, a group of Aborigines has lodged a high court writ, seeking to stop the government from using the kangaroo and the emu on the national coat of arms.

The Aboriginal activists say the representation of the animals - which they regard as sacred totems - is a breach of copyright.

The activists are accusing the Commonwealth of Australia of cultural theft, saying it could not prove it had been given written permission to use the images.

In a move to reclaim their sacred symbols, the activists ripped the coat of arms off the former parliament building in the federal capital, Canberra, during weekend celebrations of the 30th anniversary of an Aboriginal tent embassy in the city.

But police have since recovered the crest.

Source: BBC World Service

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