ABC to pursue legal action over One Nation's use of Bluey
The ABC will take legal action against One Nation for using Bluey without permission in a 2024 political cartoon.
The ABC will pursue legal action against One Nation over use of Bluey in the party's Please Explain cartoon series. In a 2024 episode titled "The State of Melbourne", the beloved cartoon dog is hit by a car driven by former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is a passenger. ABC Managing Director Hugh Marks told Senate estimates on Tuesday that, to his knowledge, One Nation had not licensed Bluey's likeness from BBC Studios.
Marks said the ABC does not believe One Nation's satire defence will hold up in court. The video is not a parody of any Bluey work.
It uses the character significantly. The ABC will send a cease and desist letter demanding the video be taken down.
Damages may be sought.
- The State of Melbourne
- Episode title
- 2024
- Episode year
- BBC Studios
- Character's distributor
Why it mattersThe case tests copyright protection for beloved characters and whether political satire provides a legal defence against unauthorised use.
AustraliaThe legal dispute involves an Australian public broadcaster protecting its intellectual property rights against a major political party.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 2 h ago
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