Disney drops plans to trademark "SEAL Team 6"

By Richard K. Barry

Just to close the loop on this one, having written about it earlier in the month, I'm pleased to report that the Walt Disney Company announced yesterday that it was going to withdraw its application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to be granted exclusive rights to use the term "SEAL Team 6" on a range of items that would include clothing and games.

SEAL Team 6 was of course the military outfit responsible for finding and killing Osama bin Laden. Just a couple of days after the raid some genius in the Disney marketing department thought it might be a fine idea to cheapen that name by putting it on merchandise.

The quote from Disney that accompanied their decision was that they pulled the application "out of deference to the Navy."

According to a Wall Street Journal report:

Navy officers privately expressed relief Wednesday that the company had chosen to retract its application, saving the organization from a long trademark battle.

The Navy first fired back at Disney with their own filing for trademarks on the phrases "SEAL Team" and "Navy SEALs," on May 13, several days after Disney's application.

I will say that I don't have a fancy MBA in marketing from one them there prestigious Ivy League schools, or from any school for that matter, but I kind of thought that this idea was a stinker from the moment I heard it. Seriously. The Disney organization has to be one of the greatest marketing success stories in the history of capitalism. How could they have been so tone deaf?

And the idea of doing battle in court with the Navy, after they emerged as national heroes for taking out bin Laden, that would have played really well in the press. I'm pretty sure Mickey would have been out of work in short order if something like that were to have happened.

Here's the topper:

Disney's intentions were misunderstood, according to a person familiar with the entertainment company's plans. Disney, which owns the ABC television network, is considering a TV show about an elite squad, similiar to other fictional drama about real-life arms of the military, such as "NCIS" and "JAG."

Yeah, right. Looks to me like this mess got handed from Disney's marketing department to its public relations department in a hurry. The whole thing is positively goofy. (Sorry for that one, but I had to).

(Cross-posted to Lippmann's Ghost.)

Is Disney really going to trademark "SEAL Team 6"?

By Richard K. Barry 

Joe Gandelman at The Moderate Voice has a short mention today of the fact that Disney has trademarked Seal Team 6. He wisely introduces the story by indicating that it is not parody. It's real:

In a perfect example of a big media company looking to capitalize on current events, the Walt Disney Company has trademarked Seal Team 6, which happens to be the name of the elite special forces team that killed Osama bin Laden.

The trademark application came on May 3rd, two days after the operation that killed bin Laden and two days after Seal Team 6 was included in thousands of news articles and TV programs focusing on the operation.

Disney's trademark applications for Seal Team 6 covers clothing, footwear, headwear, toys, games, entertainment and education services among other things. 

A couple days ago I wrote about being uncomfortable with the thought of grotesque pictures of bin Laden's body on T-shirts and in other public displays as a business proposition, had the pictures been released.

I want to be really careful here because I am not anti-soldier. I have said before that I think bin Laden had to be killed and that I am glad we had people trained to do the deed. Their bravery and resolve is to be lauded. Medals, commendations, our gratitude and respect. Absolutely.

There is just something about Disney, the standard in family entertainment, selling stuffed animals or whatever with a Seal Team 6 logo on it. There is nothing warm and cuddly about what had to be done. There is nothing clean and easy about it. Pretending that we don't compromise our humanity by committing or supporting violent acts is folly, no matter how necessary they may be. This was not a Disney moment and trying to make money off of it, especially by these people, is kind of sick.

(Cross-posted at Lippmann's Ghost.)

Top Ten Cloves: Things Disney should consider for Mickey Mouse makeover

By J. Thomas Duffy

News Item: After Mickey's Makeover, Less Mr. Nice Guy

10. High Tech - Tie Mickey Mouse into Twitter, speaking in 140 characters, or less

9. Give Mickey a perpetual tan, like John Boehner

8. Like The Commander Guy, he should have an Ek-A-Lec-Tic Reading List

7. Scandalous - Put PR out he's in Carrie Prejean's home sex tape

6. Lots of security - No matter what the makeover is, Kayne West is likely to pop up,.and step all over it

5. Presidential - Give Mickey "Obama Ears," but downside is he would still have a couple of cab doors

4. Make him over as a Northwest pilot - All they have do is let him sleep!

3. For the launch of the makeover, with cellphone cameras, claim Mickey is floating away in a tinfoil weather balloon

2. Have him lose, and gain, weight, just like Oprah

1. Only one way to go - Bruno!


Bonus Links

Judann: Pollack: How Would You Remake Mickey Mouse? ...Disney Giving Corporate Icon a Makeover

Rebecca Tushnet: You blow my mind: Mickey Mouse makeover

Generous King: Disney’s Epic Mickey Mouse Gets Makeover; He Looks Meaner Now, Just A Steamboat Willie Inspired Design That’s All!

Andy McSmith: Mickey Mouse to get a makeover




(Cross Posted at The Garlic.)

THEY Have Arrived ! Obama & The Visitors - WTF ?

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