Disney Withdraws Navy SEAL Trademark Application
- Posted on May 26, 2011 at 1:42am by
Scott Baker
- Print »
- Email »
LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Walt Disney Co. said Wednesday that it has withdrawn its application to trademark the phrase “SEAL Team 6,” the elite unit that killed Osama bin Laden, after the Navy moved to protect its rights and the entertainment giant endured a wave of criticism and late-night jibes.
Disney sought the trademark rights on May 3, two days after U.S. operatives raided a luxury compound in Pakistan and killed the mastermind of the 9/11 attacks.
Disney’s ABC subsidiary wanted to develop a TV show along the lines “NCIS” and “JAG,” which are also real-life Navy units, and would have focused on the drama and heroism of the special forces members.
But it drew flak for not only its rapid filing, but also for a trademark application that included items like Christmas stockings and snow globes.
Comedy show host Jon Stewart needled the company on his “Daily Show”: “I can’t wait for the Happy Meal.”
Navy spokeswoman Amanda Greenberg said the Navy already had rights to the SEAL trademark but recently submitted two new applications for trademarks of “Navy SEALs” and “SEAL Team.”
“The Navy is fully committed to protecting its trademark rights as it pertains to this matter and is currently examining all legal options,” she said.
Disney/ABC spokesman Kevin Brockman said the company pulled the plug on its bid “in deference to the Navy’s application.”
Disney is still interested in producing a show based on the unit’s operatives although it would likely be produced by a third-party studio.
Popular Stories
Does Misstated Marathon Claim Prove Paul Ryan Is Dishonest? (POLL) 685 Comments
‘Jumah at the DNC’ Speaker: ‘Muslims Visited America Prior to Columbus’ & ‘It Was a Muslim’ Who Guided Him to the ‘New World’ 535 Comments
Paper Details Obama Admin’s Alleged Secret Note Sent to Iran: If Israel Attacks, We Won’t Get Involved 445 Comments
Obama: RNC Like Watching ‘Black-and-White TV’ Because Romney ‘Did Not Offer a Single New Idea’ 373 Comments
Roseanne Barr: Most Billionaires ‘Violent Pedophiles’ & ‘Heartless’ Cocaine Addicts 332 Comments
Faith
This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 288 Comments- Pakistani Muslim Cleric Accused of Framing Disabled Christian Girl in Koran-Burning Case Read More
- ‘Made Up Religion’: TV Historian Enrages Muslims, Receives Threats After Producing UK Documentary Questioning Islam’s Beginnings 297 Comments
Meet the Controversial German Imam Accused of Brutally Beating His Wife & Pushing Sharia Law Read More
‘Self-Proclaimed Messiah’ & Unification Church Leader the Rev. Sun Myung Moon Has Died — Here’s His Life Story Read More
Business
President Obama Issues Major ‘Green Energy’ Executive Order 191 Comments- Germany’s Upcoming Court Ruling Will be Huge for the EU Read More
Ford Looks to Beat Toyota for Best-Selling Car in 2012 With This Model 148 Comments
Bernanke & QE3: Here’s What You Need to Know Read More- ‘Extortion’: Why Did the Labor Department ‘Drop the Hammer’ on Oregon Farmers? 301 Comments
Technology
- This Is the Creationists‘ Response to Scientist Bill Nye’s Viral Pro-Evolution Video Claiming They Harm Children 288 Comments
‘TaserDrone’: Hackers Weaponize Quadcopter With Actual ‘Shocking’ Technology Read More
Ever Heard of the Wild ‘Burning Man’ Festival in the Middle of the Nev. Desert? Here’s Your Primer Read More
Stanford Develops Technology ‘Better Than Steroids’ for Athlete Recovery Read More
Have You Pretended to Know What ‘the Cloud’ Is? You’re Not Alone Read More
Submitting your tip... please wait!
Comments (100)
Jenny Lind
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 8:49amI was not going to commemt on this and then decided this needs to be said. There is so much trash t.v. that puts men down, makes them look like their kids, wives and just about anyone is smarter. It has been going on for years-I pointed it out to my family how men are made to be irrelevant, and I believe it is deliberate. Watch a few comedies and you get my point. The message is clear, fathers are not important. If you think I am wrong, watch prime time comedy shows, and some of the most famous are the worst. So if Disney wants to put some hero guys on t.v. I am for it. Little boys need heros to look up to and grow up tp be. There are plenty of foolish fathers shown-showing good men is a plus. Too bad the shows showing intelligent, funny, good men are few and far between.
Report Post »Clive
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 12:24pmi agree with you…. but…. i don’t think they would be using “Seal Team Six” for a childrens movie… Disney owns many “grown up” production companies (touchstone, etc)… they would probably make some gory cheesy R-rated action movie with it.
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 12:27pmWell said!
There are a growing number of us who are FULLY aware of the lames stereotype that is portrayed in commercial after commercial and show after show after show after show –
The STUPID male and the heroine female who is smart enough to save the stupid man, or the “macho-woman” in boots and a short dress.
Why can’t we have strong masculine men who stand up for their family? Why can’t we have loving nurturing mothers who anchor the home? Just because it was ‘the norm’ does not make it WRONG!
The good news is, American values are returning! Good is winning over evil! There is a growing interest in all things ‘retro’…
The pendulum continues to swing. The problem is not that the pendulum swings – it always has and always will in a truly free society. The problem is that it is getting shoved harder and harder and faster and faster by both sides, such that we live at extremes.
We need a FREE society as designed by our founders, where we DO NOT force our values on others, where the government is not a weapon to legislate any agenda, where the government exists SOLELY as a “necessary evil” – for the purpose of DEFENDING OUR GOD-GIVEN, INALIENABLE RIGHTS!!
Report Post »texascav
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 8:46amSmart move Disney.
Report Post »searching for the Truth
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 8:43amZippity doo dah. Zippity day. Oh, my oh my what a wonderful day………
Report Post »tugdiver
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 8:22amI am sorry that private industry though of it first but that is the system. If they break this than they can come back and violate patents and compete with the private sector. The navy could have trademarked the name or anything they think of first. This is a slippery slope. It would be nice if Disney gave it to the Navy and the Navy to boldly say that Disney was first.
Report Post »Nervous Investor
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 8:11amIt is simply wrong and inappropriate for an entertainment organization such as Disney or any one else to even think about trademarking ANY military unit’s name, style or any other identifying characteristics or attributes. I am shocked that the Trademark office would even consider granting such rights. There seem to be too many lawyers with nothing sensible to do. I am equally shocked that the Navy seems to consider it necessary to beat the public to the draw as it were by itself registering these things as trademarks; the Navy is not a commercial enterprise! There is something fundamentally wrong with the Law that makes the Navy even want to consider this.
Report Post »conservativeme
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 7:39amWalt Disney has to be rolling in his cryogenic cell at what the company he worked so hard to build has turned into.
Report Post »RN MOM
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 7:27amWise choice Disney.
Report Post »Liberal_Atheist_Critical_Thinker
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 7:26amWhat happened to the free market and almighty capitalism? Why can‘t this company exercise it’s right s in a capitalistic society and trademark a phrase to make money with a show?
Again the Blaze members show their hypocrisy each and every day with all manner of subjects. Amazing!
Oh how I wish the search function works, it would be a lot easier to catalog the blatant hypocrisy, hate, and religious intolerance on this site.
dizzyinthedark
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 8:30amNothing wrong with capitalism when you come up with YOUR OWN IDEA to capitalize on! The insignia was not theirs to capitalize on and should not be capitalized on. This represents men who lose their lives at worst and at best, are gone from their families at great lengths of time, working in horrendous conditions at times. Something I’m sure you cannot comprehend as you sit comfortably typing away, able to get up at your own free will to move about without fear in your own environment THANKS TO THEM! The only people that should wear that insignia are those that earn it–end of story.
Report Post »TheGreyPiper
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 10:18am“blatant hypocrisy, hate, and religious intolerance on this site.”
No sir, that’s PMSNBC you want. Good to see you back; the nice doctor let you out of isolation for the day?
Report Post »4thought
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 1:07pmDid you read the article? The phrase is already trademarked by the military. Disney did not have a right to it; liberal or conservative has nothing to do with it. That fact that someone did not realize that at Disney was naive at best. (Since they have trademarks galore, I personally think they knew better and that reflects poorly on Disney). Even if a trademark is not registered it is generally established by common law and first use. Registration is acknowledgment of first use.
Report Post »4blackhorses
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 8:27pm@ LIBERAL_ATHEIST
At first I was thinking along those same lines. But then I thought about “poor taste”, something liberal atheist critical thinkers would know nothing about.
Report Post »bets
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 7:17amGood I am glad Disney withdrew applications for the trade mark. As for thier excuse of other programs JAG and NCIS being navy seal units that was weak at best.
Report Post »teddrunk
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 7:16amI never could stand anything from Disney. Especially their cartoons. Mickey always seemed a bit light in the loafers. The Mickey Mouse club was idiotic and more than a bit sick. If you wanted great cartoons, you had Warner Brothers.
Report Post »Lee_in_PA
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 7:05amDisney has many lawyers busy protecting their images, but they have no problem borrowing the SEALS image? SHAME ON THEM.
Report Post »Brontefan
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 7:03amIt is a good thing Disney is backing off. One thing I know …the military is very protective of their many insignia –it’s what our fighting men wear proudly.
Report Post »jedi.kep
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 7:01amDisney is run by mindless drones who have no concept of reality. Look at their movies! Nuff said.
(With the exception of Tangled, Disney movies have stunk on ice for quite some time. No, I am not talking about the Pixar movies. Different company).
Report Post »Concerned1
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 6:55amI sent a scathing letter to Disney letting them know what I thought of their desire to prostitute out the SEAL team. I am glad they decided to back down.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 6:20amAbout to complete LONE SURVIVOR by Marcus Lutrell and co-author. My knowledge of the SEALS has increased exponentially as has my respect and admiration. If you have not yet read that book, run don’t walk to the nearest bookstore, or order online. The story of the SEALS (as other special forces groups) and of all our military brings us courage inner resolve and strength.
THANK YOU, SEALS!
THANK YOU, SPECIAL FORCES!
THANK YOU MILITARY!
GOD BLESS AMERICA AND ISRAEL.
Disney, you‘ve lost your creator’s vision…… hmmmmm….. same could be said for all of us! Let‘s get about regaining our CREATOR’S vision!
Report Post »RLTW
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 10:49amKICKAGRANDMA
Other good Special Operations books if you want to get into the minds of our great warriors.
#1 Not a good day to die.
#2 The Mission, the Men and Me. by Pete Blaber.
Report Post »GrandmaPat
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 8:34pmAnother one I have read is Seal Team Six:Memoirs of an Elite Navy Seal Sniper. As to the person who made the remark about those who have written books profiting from Seal Team Six or other special forces units. Normally they are written by actual warriors and they have the right to tell their stories. Disney on the other hand does not have the right to the trademark. They haven’t been through hell to earn it as the members of any of the special forces groups have!
Report Post »SMART MOVE DISNEY!!!
Psychosis
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 6:10amim going to trade mark the alphabet
dont like it learn chinese
Report Post »jim
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 6:02amI’ve lost all respect for Disney, what little I had for them. Disney should have shown the patriotism and common decency to NOT apply for the trademark in the first place… instead, it took pressure from the Navy?? to force them to withdraw. That’s not doing the RIGHT THING… that’s being forced to stop doing the WRONG THING. The intent is still there… when you put a thief in jail, you don’t lessen his desire to steal… you merely reduce his opportunities to do so. The thief remains. Disney is disgusting.
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 6:21amhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MY-5uFRzlEA&feature=related
Report Post »NOBALONEY
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 6:00amHey Disney why not pull the plug on ABC news? That would mean you did two good things for America.
Report Post »AmeriCat
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 5:58amI’m glad. Now I don’t have to boycott Disney…
Report Post »hook
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 5:50amDisney has gone goffey……
Report Post »epmonroe
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 5:30amWhat you wanna bet some porn producer has already trademarked Seal Team Sex.
Report Post »I bet ya!
Clive
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 12:22pmSeal team six… you mean Squeal Teen Sex?
Report Post »BBomber66
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 5:12amRight on! What a load of self-aggrandizing clap trap bovind scatology on the part of the mouse.
Report Post »justice
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 4:26amLeave the Seals alone. They have our Honor and Respect. Their jobs are for their Honor also. Keep them safe and let them do their jobs without the attention, for their Families sakes also. Thank you Seals.
Report Post »AmeriCat
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 4:29amMega dittos. God Bless.
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 4:52am@Justice:
True. And they are true AMERICAN hero’s for all to respect.
Report Post »Windsong
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 4:23amThat was a very smart move on Disney’s part. They were terribly close to losing the business of the military and all patriotic Americans. To all of us, there is nothing worse than a person – or group of people – that are think it’s a great marketing tool to make money by using the name given to actual heroes. Disney is a great company and offers a tremendous product…but in no way could they ever be compared to the nay of our honorable American military.
Report Post »Perhaps it‘s time that businessmen in this great free nation of ours start realizing that they wouldn’t be businessmen OR free if it weren’t for the Seals and all of our heroes in uniform. Although they certainly don’t require it, I would defend our men and women in uniform to the death.
Good choice Disney!
dizzyinthedark
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 6:47amDisney should never had considered using what wasn’t theirs to begin with! The insignia belongs to the the Seals end of story. The idea that Disney would even consider using it for their gain was, in my opinion, Disney being a whore.
Report Post »OLDBIKEFIXER
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 8:14amI bet’cha Disney would make “snuff films” if they thought they could make a buck from it. And what would Disney have for the “Seal Team 6” promotional events during “gay week” at Disney World? (Yes, there really is a “gay week” at Disney world, just in case you didn’t know…)
I think it’s time for me to change my Mickey Mouse picture to something a bit less disturbing… perhaps Charles Manson?
Report Post »shimauma
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 4:07pmdisney lost my family’s funding when they started doing “alternative lifestyle” day at their parks, so while I’m happy they are desacrating the Seals with their commercialism, they are still sleazy commercialists in my book.
Report Post »Jediusetheforce
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 4:02amYo Ho Yo Ho the Pirates life for Me!!!!!
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 4:12amWell I think it is a good thing Disney is withdrawing, I do not think they should have itl
Report Post »Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 4:19am@Sissykatz:
Agreed…the SEAL team is special to America, and it should stay with the armed forces, not be used for commercial marketing and such. It is good to see Disney leadership making the right choice in this matter.
Report Post »Thunderstorm 316
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 4:32am@JEDI, good one, disney should have known better in the frist place. God bless the SEALS.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 4:32amSooooo, the Rat does something right. Yay! I’m glad they yanked their applications. That was just tacky for them to attempt such a thing in the first place.
Report Post »101
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 4:33amIt’s not made in China!
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 6:00ama Skull and 666
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 6:02amMickey Mouse is Satanic
Report Post »tower7femacamp
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 6:05amhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Church_of_Satan_(book)
Report Post »jeffyfreezone
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 6:35amYou know Hawaii 50 centers around a Navy SEAL star. I thought this would be great so I started watching it when it first came out. Don’t you know not long after, it had a Navy SEAL as the VILLIAN not once but TWO weeks in a ROW???!!!!! I was so upset I haven’t watched it since. SCREW EM!
Report Post »TumbleBumble
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 7:30amTOWER7FEMACAMP ~
Fantastia… never could watch that one. Held my interest for all of about two minutes.
Report Post »ishka4me
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 8:11amup here in the people republic of massachusetts, Worcester, we have a great hundred year old soda company called Polar soda. There trademark is a polar bear and has been for over 100 years. A few years ago coca cola had a commercial with polar bears at Christmas time if you remember. Coca cola sued polar soda of Worcester Mass for trade mark infringement for having a giant inflated polar bear on it’s billboard, which was there decades before the polar bear Christmas commercial.No ethics in big business.
Report Post »HeisLord
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 9:30amThe Disney Company filing for that was cheesy to start with. Apparently there is book out now titled “SEAL team 6”. Guess it truly is all about the $$$.
Report Post »BJColter Country Music Iconoclast
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 9:40amHere’s the problem. Commercialization and Corporatization of Capitalism. That NFL guy is right. Beer and Football (entertainment) has beguiled Americans and weakened us enuff to put up with the likes of Obumma and his bolshevik/islamist hordes. Disney was wrong for even applying. Here’s a ditty about it all.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXvRDmM5Zx4
Report Post »TomFerrari
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 9:54amWow.
Guess I misread THIS issue!
I LOVE LOVE LOVE our military!
I support them at every opportunity.
They DIE so I can be free.
They DIE so the most disgusting among us can spew their vitriole and call us haters and call us racist.
Nobody is any more supportive of our troops than I am… nonbody.
Having said that…
I was excited that Disney was planning to produce a series based on the Navy SEALs.
Disney’s care and quality they put into films is UNSURPASSED.
So, how can those other guys have “JAG”?
Now, Disney will still do it, but they will have to call it something else.
I THOUGHT THE MILITARY WAS THERE TO DEFEND US. NOT TO FIGHT PRIVATE CORPORATIONS. NOT TO SELL T-SHIRTS.
I THOUGHT OUR GOVERNMENT WAS THERE TO PROTECT OUT GOD-GIVEN RIGHTS, NOT TO ERODE THEM AS FAST AND SECRETIVELY AS THEY CAN!
Why do we still have a postal system? They are in direct competition with privately owned businesses. We have to subsidize them with BILLIONS of our dollars EVERY QUARTER! In order for the post office to succeed, they must take business away from FedEx or UPS or one of the other private carriers.
LET’S SHRINK GOVERNMENT back to its Constitutional size and purpose, and NEVER allow it to grow beyond that again!
Report Post »jb.kibs
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 10:37amthat is shameful.
Report Post »Clive
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 12:21pmwell the thing is, someone else is going to trademark it now.
Report Post »freddyfreak1999
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 1:57pmIt’s fine by me! Our Gov. O.K.ed it.
Report Post »PATTY HENRY
Posted on May 26, 2011 at 2:44pmI agree. THE SEALS are to be RESPECTED and ADMIRED. TV show about them? FINE as long as it doesn‘t give away stuff or isn’t from a “hand-wringing Liberal POV”…. We’ve had movies and shows about our HEROES for years… but I agree that some things are “SACRED” and don’t need to be commercialized. PS: Giving it over to ‘another company’ to handle production is like me putting a shoe in my other hand to put on…duh.
Report Post »old white guy
Posted on May 27, 2011 at 3:06pmas well they should have.
Report Post »