There are fears the use of Australia’s unofficial national anthem, Waltzing Matilda, will be severely limited due to an ongoing trademark battle.

WM Productions, owned by Victorian performer Dennis O’Keefe, has held trademark rights to Banjo Paterson’s song in entertainment and film since 1998. The company has applied to extend its rights.

Prime Minister Tony Abbott wants to protect the song for use by all Australians, News Corp reported.

• Google changes its name
• Australia still miles away from a Bledisloe Cup

Mr Abbott recently discussed the battle with the mayor of Winton, Queensland, the town where Paterson wrote the lyrics to the famous song. 

“The Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister have asked for more information about the case to understand how it will affect Winton,” Winton Mayor Butch Lenton said while in Canberra.

Winton boasts the Waltzing Matilda Centre, however it was burnt down in June 2014. The council are also trying to secure funding to have it rebuilt.

It fears that the extended trademark would encroach on any new educational material, websites, brochures or interpretive material the rebuilt centre may seek to produce about the song.

Mr O’Keeffe wrote a book about the secret history behind the song in 2012. He died in 2014 but his partner, Gina Boon, has taken over the company and is seeking the expanded trademark.

Paterson’s great-grandson Alistair Caird-Campbell told News Corp that Waltzing Matilda was written for the enjoyment of everyone, and not for someone’s profit.

“He wrote his poems for the people and general enjoyment,” Mr Caird-Campbell said.

“I’m distressed that some places and institutions cannot use the term ‘Waltzing Matilda’ if they want to put a video production together.”