John Williamson, one of Australia’s most treasured singers and songwriters, has slammed moves to strengthen the trademark ownership of ‘Waltzing Matilda’, Australia’s unofficial national anthem and a song he’s performed for decades.
As the Sydney Morning Herald reports, Williamson says he’d rather go to jail than pay to use the bush ballad’s name. The controversy over the iconic tune has even caught the attention of Prime Minister Tony Abbott.
According to Fairfax, the PM recently met with the mayor of the outback Queensland town of Winton where the song was written by Banjo Paterson in 1895. Even Paterson’s great-grandson, Alistair Caird-Campbell, has weighed in
Speaking to News Corp Australia, the grandson of the great Australian bush bard said ‘Waltzing Matilda’ was written for all Australians and not for someone to profit from. So where has the controversy come from?
As Fairfax reports, WM Productions, the Australian company that partly owns trademark rights to ‘Waltzing Matilda’, is seeking to prevent the song’s title from being used in merchandise and promotions.
WM Productions has held trademark rights to the famous tune for use in entertainment and film since 1998, but they is currently applying for further trademark rights because they’re working on a film based on the song.
“If I had to pay someone to use the words Waltzing Matilda (on merchandise) then I would refuse and I would rather go to jail,” Williamson told Fairfax. However, WM Productions are scoffing at reports saying they will force artists to pay for use of the song.
According to The Standard, the company have a limited trademark covering “film production and cinematographic goods”, but they insists they have never stopped Winton Shire Council or The Waltzing Matilda Centre from using the song.
The Standard understands that WM Productions lodged a trademark update with intellectual property rights agency IP Australia last month to protect the film and its title from a rival production.
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“That’s not going to change our agreement with the centre or the Winton Shire Council – we’re simply protecting the title of our film,” WM Productions’ Gina Boon said. “This (song) is a very special part of Australia’s history and culture…”
“This is something I’m also personally passionate about. In no way would I want to see any damage done to its name,” Boon added, acknowledging the iconic nature of the song, which holds a special place in Australian culture.
“[WM Productions] has no intention of, or desire to, prevent the fair and reasonable use of the name by Winton Shire Council, the Waltzing Matilda Centre or any party outside the scope of its trademark rights.”
