ABSTRACT
Abstract: This paper explores links between international intellectual property rights, indigenous culture and heritage art, the Aboriginal people of Australia, and their importance to tourism in this country. Although Australia is a party to the Berne Convention, it has not enacted domestic laws to protect the moral rights of artists, and exploitation and appropriation of Aboriginal images continues despite litigation. The 1998 Copyright Amendment Bill now before the federal parliament seeks to introduce full rights of protection of attribution and integrity to both Aboriginal and other artists. Once implemented it will be significant to their protection as well as Australia’s cultural tourism trade. Keywords: aboriginal, indigenous, art, moral impacts, cultural tourism, heritage, intellectual property, Australia.
