ABC takes legal action over One Nation's use of Bluey

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 27 Oct, 07:02 · Archive

The ABC is pursuing legal action against One Nation for using the cartoon character Bluey in a satirical video.

The ABC is taking legal action against One Nation for featuring the character Bluey in a satirical video titled 'The State of Melbourne'. In the video, part of One Nation's 'Please Explain' series, Bluey is struck by a car driven by former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the passenger seat. The video implies that the damaged Bluey later strikes both men.

ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks told a Senate estimates hearing on Tuesday that One Nation had not licensed Bluey from BBC Studios, which distributes the television show. Marks said the use constituted a 'blatant' infringement of intellectual property rights and was 'shocking and disrespectful to the children of Australia'. Labor Senator Varun Ghosh described the use as 'heinous', particularly given an alleged attack on independent MP Helen Haines on 19 October in which she was hit by a car and lost both legs.

Markks acknowledged that One Nation could potentially claim the video qualified for fair use as satire or parody, but he said he did not believe that defence would succeed. 'It's not a parody of any Bluey work, it's not a minor use of the intellectual property,' he said. The ABC announced it would pursue further legal action.

How it is being reported

• ABC snarls at 'blatant' use of Bluey by One NationA beloved cartoon dog getting run over by a car in a satirical cartoon produced by One Nation has prompted the national broadcaster to take legal action.Perth Now · 27 Oct, 06:26
• ABC snarls at 'blatant' use of Bluey by One NationA beloved cartoon dog getting run over by a car in a satirical cartoon produced by One Nation has prompted the national broadcaster to take legal action.The West Australian · 27 Oct, 06:26

In this story: ABC · One Nation · Bluey · Daniel Andrews · Anthony Albanese · BBC Studios · Helen Haines · Hugh Marks

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