Indigenous cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP)

The rights that First Nations peoples hold over their cultural heritage, knowledge, and creative expression including stories, songs, ceremonies, language, designs, symbols, objects, and practices. ICIP is not equivalent to copyright and is not extinguished by the passage of time or changes in circumstance. The Australian government committed in 2023 through its national cultural policy, Revive, to the introduction of standalone legislation to protect ICIP. ICIP may determine how cultural material may be appropriately accessed, used, shared, and represented. Working with First Nations cultural content requires understanding and respecting ICIP, regardless of whether the material appears to be 'in the public domain'. The Creative Australia Protocols for using First Nations Cultural and Intellectual Property in the Arts are the primary reference for the sector.