Seal Team 6 - In the right hands . .

[Dizny Dad]

I have always held Disney up as a great company with somewhat lofty thoughts about America. Every once in a while I get reminded that the company can be just as thoughtless as the next.

The most recent action to tarnish the luster was the filing by Disney to trademark the name Seal Team 6 for everything from clothing, toys, movies, music, you name it. Hey, this is America - cash in.

On May 3, Disney filed for patent and trademark rights to use the name, or to prevent others from using the name. (two days after a newsworthy event)

On May 13, the US Navy filed similar applications, with protests that they have been using the name prior to recent news events.

By US law, it is first come, first serve, as far as trademark rights.

Disney has since withdrawn its applications. Thanks; really!

Good move, but the damage to the image for me remains.

These feelings all started years ago when Disney charged my children to perform in a parade in the Bands of America celebration; like they needed the money. . . .

 

[ssawka]

Maybe they were planning a movie about Seal Team 6 and wanted the merchandise tie-in.

 

[nunzia]

That was my thought as well..and since they are backing off of it, well..maybe no longer.

 

[nickspace]

"The love of money is the root of all evil."

 

[twinklebug]

.

Disney has since withdrawn its applications. Thanks; really!

Good move, but the damage to the image for me remains.

These feelings all started years ago when Disney charged my children to perform in a parade in the Bands of America celebration; like they needed the money. . . .

Good move on Disney's part to withdraw - Bad move to even consider trademarking the name to start with.

Like any company, despite all the good intentions of the founders, eventually the business side takes over and the golden heart of the company turns into a piggy bank desperate for more gold. There is a balance that Disney struggles with between corporate profit and survival and upholding Walt's principals and growing the memories he left the world with.

As for charging your kids to March in the parade... no clue what's going through their heads there. May I ask how much it was? Just curious if it was a small amount to help cover the administrative costs or if this is a good income producer for them.

 

[JimMIA]

There IS a movie in the works about the Seal Team Six mission in Abbotabad, but it's not Disney.

I'm a little surprised and disappointed that Disney would stoop so low, and backing off from their money grab doesn't make it that much better. I'm sure they backed off ONLY because they knew the Navy would fight their trademark application, and win-or-lose they would suffer a huge public relations nightmare.

 

[Dizny Dad]

Good move on Disney's part to withdraw - Bad move to even consider trademarking the name to start with.

Like any company, despite all the good intentions of the founders, eventually the business side takes over and the golden heart of the company turns into a piggy bank desperate for more gold. There is a balance that Disney struggles with between corporate profit and survival and upholding Walt's principals and growing the memories he left the world with.

As for charging your kids to March in the parade... no clue what's going through their heads there. May I ask how much it was? Just curious if it was a small amount to help cover the administrative costs or if this is a good income producer for them.

I certainly am in favor of corporate profitability, as that type opportunity helped make America what it is. I would like to have thought that Disney would have gone ahead in honoring the team by asking to use the name, rather than grabbing it out from underneath them two days after it broke in the news.

When groups perform in the Parks, they pay a full admission ticket for the day. Yes, they get the benefit of the Park after the performance, but a consideration for their work would be nice.

 

[nytimez]

My understanding is that they were - and still are - considering a TV series based on Seal Team 6.

 

[Donut23]

Apparently the Disney grownups were absolutely stunned they received so much negative feedback from just about everyone. Once the news networks (CNN, NBC & FOX - ABC was a touch reluctant to talk about it obviously) picked up the story with all the negative feedback, it was only a matter of time before Disney finally figured out it wasn't a good idea. Besides, they apparently - but quietly told they would never actually receive that trademark anyway.

The biggest surprise is how much Disney completely misjudged the reaction from across the country. Feed back into Burbank was nearly completely negative. Just imagine how well it would have been received if Disney simply announced a percentage of the profits would go to .... let say .... support of the families of Seal Team Team Members lost in defense of our country........ or college scholarships for the Children of Seal Team 6. Disney could have played that advantage and won the hearts of everyone.

 

[ssawka]

Disney is a huge corporation and as such is only concerned with profit and maximizing return for their stock holders. Being fronted by a cute and lovable mouse does not make them any less ruthless. Most of Walt's ideals have been abandoned long ago.

 

[umichigan10]

Disney is a huge corporation and as such is only concerned with profit and maximizing return for their stock holders. Being fronted by a cute and lovable mouse does not make them any less ruthless. Most of Walt's ideals have been abandoned long ago.

ssawka-love the quotes in the siggy. especially the bottom one, really ties in with this discussion.

 

[pluto2417]

Seal Team 6 was already trademarked in 2002 and 2004 for a line of video games from a video game company. They released the trademark in 2006. This was in the story on the Orlando Sentinels website under Daily Disney. I think it would have been cool for Disney to have this as a way for kids to realize the true heroes of the country.

 

[insureman]

Not a smart move by Disney. Glad they withdrew, guys I served with in the Navy were not to happy about it as well as other veterans I know.

 

[doconeill]

By US law, it is first come, first serve, as far as trademark rights.

Just to clarify, it is not "first to apply gets it". But the first applicant does have the advantage - it requires anyone having used the name prior to demonstrate they they did so, and typically in the relevant fields - although crossover issues can be present (i.e. Apple Corps v. Apple Computer). Often such things drag out for many years.

 

[skiingfast]

Just to clarify, it is not "first to apply gets it". But the first applicant does have the advantage - it requires anyone having used the name prior to demonstrate they they did so, and typically in the relevant fields - although crossover issues can be present (i.e. Apple Corps v. Apple Computer). Often such things drag out for many years.

This is quite true, claiming a name doesn't mean you will get it.

In my area a guy sold cars, this was a while back maybe 10 or so years ago. Along come a giant company that make cars and wanted to sell them in the same county. Hold on, they may of trademarked the name but this guy had been selling cars for over a half century. His Jeep used car lot had first right over the Jeep division of Chrysler for use of the name pertaining to automobiles. Being and ethical guy did he sue Chrysler for a portion of all the CJ Jeep sold using his name? No, he told the local lawyers to stop calling him, nobody is going to confuse his used car lot that had been in business since his dad opened it Before the war for the Dodge dealership that now wanted to sell Jeep Cherokees.

 

[TisBit]

I wonder why the Navy didn't do so sooner and really think that only because Disney applied that they decided to apply and get it trademarked. If it wasn't Disney, it would have been someone else (as PP mentioned, apparently someone else already did and released it before the latest news).