Disney Withdraws Trademark Application for SEAL Team 6

File under “it’s rarely too late to try to correct a mistake.” Especially if the mistake you are trying to correct is getting on the wrong side of people who make war for a living.

According to the Wall Street Journal:

Walt Disney Co. said Wednesday that it will withdraw its applications to trademark the term “SEAL Team 6″ for use on toys, games, and other consumer products.

A Disney spokesman said the company was withdrawing the applications “out of deference to the Navy.”

Read more…

I’m glad to see Disney correct this, but I’ve not yet been disabused of the notion that our trademark and patent system is due for an overhaul.

photo credit: ussocom_ru

Disney to the US SEALS

Wow. The sheer lack of respect. I’m not astounded that Disney pulled this stunt, but I am astounded that those in charge of the trademark office don’t have the common sense to reject this out of hand on the basis of well, sheer common sense. WTF!?

Some congresscritter should take the reform of the trademarks as well as the patent office on as a cause. There is enough screwed up stuff in both cases to make a career.

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 also happens to be the name of the elite special forces team that killed Osama Bin Laden.

The trademark applications 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″ cover clothing, footwear, headwear, toys, games and “entertainment and education services,” among other things. more…

I hope the Navy sues Disney and wins.