• AOPA has been using the phrase "Freedom to Fly" in several contexts for many years. (Steve Hitchen)
    AOPA has been using the phrase "Freedom to Fly" in several contexts for many years. (Steve Hitchen)
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AOPA Australia CEO Ben Morgan has said he will take steps to register "Freedom to Fly" after Recreational Aviation Australia (RAAus) relinquished the trademark last month.

RAAus registered "Freedom to Fly" in June this year, saying their intention was to protect the phrase for all non-profit aviation organisations, despite AOPA Australia having used the wording for several years.

On 24 August, RAAus canceled the trademark registration after an industry outcry that included calls for an emergency general meeting and for the CEO to resign.

Documents released following a Freedom of Information (FOI) request show that trademark registrar IP Australia was aware that AOPA Australia was using the phrase, as was PG Aviation's Freedom to Fly formation aerobatic team.

"RAAus were aware of the fact that AOPA Australia was using the slogan," Morgan has said, "and I am a little mystified that IP Australia would approve."

IP Australia recorded no objections to the initial RAAus registration.

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