Warner Music has withdrawn its plans to trademark the term ‘The Diggers’ after outrage from Australians.

Warner Music has withdrawn its plans to trademark the term ‘The Diggers’ after outrage from Australians.

‘Digger’ is Australian military slang for a soldier and used as a term of endearment when talking about soldiers from World War I who fought at Gallipolli (ANZACs).

Warner Music was accused of insulting the soldiers by attempting to trademark the name for their group The Diggers, the Australian version of UK’s The Soldiers.

In a statement today, Warner CEO Tony Harlow said, “Following yesterday’s announcement of the Federal Government’s plans to object to Warner Music trademarking the term “The Diggers” in certain specific contexts, Warner Music Australia is withdrawing its trademark application.  The application was purely for use in the context of an album project in an attempt to prevent ‘copycat’ singers from releasing products or performing live under that name.   The project will now proceed without such protection.

“There continues to be discussion between Warner Music Australia and the Australian Army about the appropriate way to properly protect our mutual endeavours to raise money for charity around "The Diggers" musical project (an Australianised version of the UK "the Soldiers" project). Both parties have already agreed that neither will act without the others involvement and consent.  Both the Leagues Association and Legacy have been consulted from the beginning”.