| Author | Message | ||
     Joshinga |
"SEAL Team 6 isn’t going down without a fight. The Navy is challenging Disney’s attempt to trademark the name of the elite squad responsible for taking out the world’s most wanted terrorist. On May 3, just two days after Usama bin Laden was killed in a raid on the Al Qaeda leader’s Pakistan compound, Disney filed trademark applications to use the name "SEAL Team 6" on everything from entertainment, toys, video games, clothing, footwear -- even Christmas ornaments and snow globes. Disney's applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office filed cover three separate categories of goods and services -- meaning, they don't yet have consumer products but intend to in the future. But 10 days later, on May 13, the U.S. Navy hit back, filing two applications of its own. The Navy's competing applications sought trademark status for "SEAL Team" posters and clothing, as well as “Navy SEAL” goods and services, identifying the Navy squad as an organization that “develops and executes military missions involving special operations strategy, doctrine and tactics." Disney has not responded to FoxNews.com's repeated requests for comment. The U.S. Navy did not respond to repeated emails and phone calls Monday and Tuesday seeking comment on the Navy's trademark application. But earlier, when FoxNews.com contacted the U.S. Navy on May 13 seeking comment on Disney’s trademark applications, a spokesman said he was unaware of the attempt to swipe the name “SEAL Team 6” and said he would be forwarding the information along to Navy lawyers. Who will take home the victory in the fight between the U.S. military and Mickey Mouse? "Disney would have priority, as far as the filing date goes with trademark office," New York trademark attorney Thomas Wilentz said. It all comes down to whether the patent office feels that granting trademarks to both U.S. Navy and Disney would cause consumer confusion, Wilentz said, in which case the patent office would give priority to the entity that filed its application first -- Disney. "But the U.S. Navy may have the argument that they are, you know, actually the SEALs, that they were using it first to identify themselves and any use by Disney would create consumer confusion about sponsorship," he said. "And if they actually took Disney to court they could win." Robin Bren, a Virginia-based trademark attorney with the law firm Spivak McClelland Maier & Neustadt, thinks the Patent and Trademark Office would turn down Disney’s trademark attempts. “In order to overcome the probable refusal, Disney will have to argue that potential customers will not assume a connection with the Navy,” she said, adding that would be difficult in light of the elite squad’s recently acquired celebrity-like status. Because Disney was a step ahead of the Navy in filling, before the Navy’s applications can proceed, Disney’s must be abandoned. But Bren said Disney and the Navy also could enter into an agreement consenting to each other’s use and registration of “SEAL Team 6” for their respective goods and services. “Given the status/stature of Disney, this may be an attractive approach for the department of the Navy,” Bren said. Perhaps man and mouse can coexists, at least on some of the trademark issues, said Mark Warzecha, trademark attorney with Zies Widerman & Malek, a Florida law firm. “Disney filed in the category of entertainment. Maybe they want to come out with an amusement park ride and the Navy’s not in that business, so there really isn’t a conflict there,” he said. “If Disney decides they’re going to invade countries, then there might be an issue.” Still, Warzecha said, he’d side with the Navy if it ever went up against Disney in court. “Trademark law is based on priority of use. If you use it first in commerce, you win,” he said. “I’m pretty sure the U.S. Navy has been using 'SEAL Team 6' long before the mouse got involved.” Still, the process moves slowly, even for SEALs. It could take up to three years -- the deadline on the type of intent-to-use application filed by Disney -- to settle this. Paul Fucito, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office spokesman, told FoxNews.com none of these applications had yet been reviewed, and new applications usually take about three months to be reviewed. Don't blame Mickey Mouse for trying, Warzecha said. “It’s not disingenuous on Disney’s part. They probably thought, oh man, that’s the hottest name in town—let’s put our mouse ears on and figure out some way to use this,” he said." Really? how low will Disney go to make a buck? | ||
| Mountainstorm |
Pretty damn low | ||
| B00stzx3 |
+1 I'm all for free market principles..but jeebus how scummy of them. Did Disney get ethics lessons from Wandell? | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
REALLY??.... Maybe Seal Team 6 should pay some peeps at Disney a little visit... what a bunch of scumbags | ||
| Whisperstealth |
Wolf+1 | ||
| Joshinga |
My guess is that they were planning a movie about the top secret operation that they know nothing about and were just securing the marketing rights for the merchandise. Ass hats. B00stzx3: Im sure that Disneys new CEO and Wandell are frat brothers from Douchebag University.  | ||
| Sifo |
Disney died with Walt Disney. What it is now is a mockery of what Walt built. If I were a parent I would do everything I could to keep my kids out of that BS marketing trap. No doubt it would be a daily struggle though. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
be careful of that mouse- he owns the fourth largest bicoastal submarine fleet on the planet, and operates from 3 of the 7 continents, with capabilities of moving men, mice and material with their 'tours'.... Have you seen the security operations center of Disney in California ? It should give the Orweillians a reason to buy a new tin foil hat. There is rarer a more effective propoganda machine than that Mouse, look at what he has done to generations of girls that believe in the fairy godmother, princess rescues, and 'hero' iconography. Be very mindful of that Mouse. | ||
| Aesquire |
http://www.hulu.com/watch/1521/saturday-night-live -disney-vault-vt | ||
| Jon |
Disney surrendered to the Navy. | ||
| Joshinga |
"Disney surrendered to the Navy" Aparently Bob Iger (Disney CEO) is smart enough to recognize a PR nightmare before it explodes in his face. Dip S**ts | ||
| Kenm123t |
ONLY way is all profits go to the families of Seals killed in action. other than that back off Mickey | ||
| Hootowl |
Who is the f'tard at disney who thought this was a good idea? | ||
| Cyclonemick |
I heard on BOB and Tom this morning that the reason Disney wanted the rights to the name is they wanted to do a show similar to the shows JAG and NCIS, in which both are real military departments! | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
well that's great they wanna do a show about the Navy Seals.... and if they do... how about a little kick back to the USO... or maybe the Navy Seals bottom line... something | ||
| Cityxslicker |
how about free rides from terrorists on the euthanasia coaster  | ||
| Boogiman1981 |
i like Kens idea. give them conditional rights. for a limited time and the profit goes to a fund for the families of fallen seals. they would also need ti hire some actual seals for consultation of the film/tv show/whatever | ||
| Gunut75 |
HEY DISNEY!!!!!  | ||
| Crackhead |
waaa they beat HD to it. I was hoping for a FDXCSHISVWERAGJILADFSG Seal team 6 edition. It look look just like all the other FDXCSHISVWERAGJILADFSG but with a Coin supper glued to the gas tank. Please, it is a capitalist country and Disney is trying to make their buck. If Disney didn't go for it, then Universal or another studio would. | ||
| Xdigitalx |
I didn't like the idea at first either. But then I remember Disney allways doing something or using something from the military for a charactor or about a movie. There are so many movies made from disney like that, that reflected something from WWII or whatnot. I don't remember hearing about any seals or soldiers asking for any compensation for any of those war movies made over the years... do you?? Remember the incredible Mr. Limpet? | ||
| Joshinga |
I do Remember the Incredible Mr. Limpet. Im rather fond of the movie. My son watched it the other day for that matter. But anyway my point is from what I remember about the movie is that there was no specific reference to any unit. | ||
| Cityxslicker |
didnt Charlie Sheen already appropriately F up the branding opportunities through a movie gig back in the 80's ? | ||
| Xdigitalx |
I wish I had 1/10th of a percent of the bravery guys like that had. I wasn't trying to be sarcastic or disrespectful, it was just a thought that crossed my mind. Or just another way of looking at it. When I think of when I saw that movie (and others like it) for the first time, and playing for my kid the thought about disney revenue never crossed my mind. (it sure does now though!! lol) | ||
| Bartimus |
Seriously? Coming from a jarhead, SCREW DISNEY! give it to the navy, the seals are the navy's elite fighting force. Who would even think of a "sailor" even remotely having anything to do with Disney. Could you imagine what Disney would do with a sailors language? After PC where would the cussing be? Puleeze! | ||
| Xdigitalx |
Maybe they are trying make it as popular as: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Story_of_GI_Joe | ||
| Cityxslicker |
if you want to know what Disney would do to a Navy Seal plot line, look no further than Vin Diesels kiddy friendly 'The Pacifier' even the title screams baby binky blubbler blunders sprinkle in amounts of sound of music, errant animal shenanigans, a neutered special forces operator without weapons and add the kid friendly 'bed time story' and ta fn day - Disney Maybe it will end with an nice new definition of 'waterboarding' to mean giving terrorists a chance to run down a slip and slide. (because if you just 'understand' them, love them, and give them 'fun' with a theme song- we could all get along) |
