“We would never give permission for the image to be used”: Australian Olympic Committee threatens legal action over conservative billboard on trans womens’ participation
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Australian Olympic Committee threatens action over billboard
The Australian Olympic Committee and Swimming Australia are threatening legal action over a conservative lobby group for featuring images of elite female swimmers on billboards that is being used to campaign against trans women in sports.
The AOC will soon send a letter to the group “Advance” for using intellectual property without permission. The signs and billboards created by Advance feature the phrase “women’s sport is not for men” with images of swimmers Dawn Fraser, Emma McKeon and Emily Seebohm, all of whom have had strong opinions on the subject.
Seebohm and McKeon are in their Tokyo Olympics uniforms with their rings, which is what the committee is claiming to be intellectual property that has been used without permission.
Australian Olympic Committee threaten action over conservative billboard
Emily Seebohm who is an Olympic champion has criticised the action group for using her comments and image “as part of a political agenda without her consent”.
“For clarity – if it was sought it would have been categorically denied. Swimming Australia does not endorse this, or any message, from the Advance Australia party,” Buckley, chief executive of Swimming Australia said to theguardian.com. “Swimming Australia believes in a competitive environment that is inclusive, fair and equitable for all athletes at the same time. Ultimately, all Australians deserve to feel welcome, safe, valued and celebrated in swimming.” AOC and Swimming Australia expect the ads to be removed immediately after the notice comes in.
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