FORMER Aussie Soldiers 'Slam' bid by Warner Music to trademark the term "The Diggers"

[jackovesk]

FORMER Australian soldiers have slammed a bid by global entertainment company Warner Music to trademark the term "The Diggers".


OUTRAGED: Vietnam War hero Keith Payne says the term 'Digger' belongs to past and serving soldiers.

The Federal Government has written to the Australian trademarks registrar raising concerns about two applications to coin the phrase made famous by World War I soldiers, along with an image of a soldier saluting.

Veterans Affairs Minister Warren Snowdon told The Courier-Mail on Thursday night that a move to trademark the term in a military context was "inappropriate".

Vietnam War hero and Victoria Cross recipient Keith Payne said the famous phrase belonged to past and serving soldiers.

"It's an iconic name for the Australian service people from the bloody Boer War on," he said. "They can't register that. What's with these people?"

The bid to block Warner's trademark applications has flared more than two months after a battle began over the naming rights of a music CD featuring Australian soldiers.

The CD was to be called "The Diggers" and raise money for a military charity, before the army stepped in to argue for a different title.

Eventually the army relented and the CD was made.

But Mr Snowdon said the letter sent on June 25 raised concerns over the two trademark applications because of military connotations.

Mr Snowdon said the register of trademarks already had about 60 registrations of the term "digger" or similar, but they were related to earthmoving or other non-military things.

"These do not concern the Australian Government," he said.

"The Diggers" was a special term when used in a military sense, and when connected with the silhouette of a soldier saluting.

"It's got significant historical and cultural connotations for the Australian Defence Force and indeed for Australians," Mr Snowdon said. "I don't think that the Australian community would think it's appropriate."

Victoria RSL president Major-General David McLachlan said former and current soldiers would object to the move.

"There would be a lot of anger, there certainly would be through the army and the RSL because that's our term," he said. "I don't believe anybody has the right to trademark it."

Major-General McLachlan said he was worried about how the term could be used if it was trademarked.

He called the music company's push "inappropriate".

The Courier-Mail contacted Warner Music Australia but was unable to get a response.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/w...-1226085160957

PS - (Warner Music) Win or Lose your Sick attempt to Trademark Australian History!

Be Warned!!! More to the Point, your really starting to PISS OFF alot of Australians, keep Waking the Masses Up, just Keep it Up!



You just Walked Over the 'White Line' Warner Music!

[Lord Sidious]

Wow. WO2 Keith Payne.
He was in the AATTV, the most highly decorated unit in the army's history.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Payne
Read that and find out why he got the victoria cross, the highest award possible under the old system.

[jackovesk]

...UPDATE...

Good News

Warner backs down on Diggers trademark

WARNER Music has withdrawn an application to trademark the term "The Diggers" along with a picture of a soldier after criticism from the federal government.
Warner Music said the application had been lodged purely to protect one of its albums from being abused by copycats.

But the government voiced strong objections, saying the term had special significance in Australian military history in describing those who served in World War I.

Today, Warner Music backed down.

"Warner Music Australia is withdrawing its trademark application," it said in a statement.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/n...-1226085875978

[skamandar]

This trademark thing is all wrong. I thing we should collectively quit it. It gives a lot of power in the hands of few, as usual.
The most ugly thing with the big music companies is that they want to trademark people.
They are sure they have the right to do it. And they actually were supported in court, which is also part of the big Illuminati machine.
Have you seen what happened to 30 Seconds to Mars - unbelievable!!!!

http://vimeo.com/26855632

They will only allow people who make inspiring music, with lyrics that makes perfect sense, to go viral, if they collect all the profit.
I really hope that will change soon.