Disney cashes in on SEAL Team 6--Hollywood giant exploits Osama bin Laden kill unit

The Washington Times ^ | May 19, 2011 | Editorial

[jazusamo]

One day after Osama bin Laden’s body was dumped into the North Arabian Sea, Walt Disney Co. executives smelled opportunity. The Hollywood giant filed three applications to trademark the term “SEAL Team 6,” the name of the elite special forces team that took down the world’s most wanted criminal. Disney wants the exclusive rights to slap the phrase on every product that could possibly make a buck.

The applications are currently pending before U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and will be assigned to a USPTO examining attorney in approximately three months. According to the company’s filings, Disney wants to be able to sell “SEAL Team 6” branded toys, games, sporting articles, clothing, shoes, hats, hand-held electronic video games, Christmas stockings, Christmas-tree ornaments and even tacky snow globes.

Disney isn’t the first to come up with the idea of exploiting a major military success. One day after the allied forces invaded Iraq, Sony applied to trademark the phrase “shock and awe” for use in a PlayStation game. After a firestorm of public criticism ensued, Sony withdrew its misguided application. Disney’s money-losing videogame division laid off 200 employees at the beginning of the year, and the firm likely wants to improve its bottom line with a cheap and easy knock-off game for portable devices...

[jazusamo]

Seems a sleasy thing on their part. If I recall correctly Walt Disney was a patriot and doubt he would be doing this if still running the company.

[Gene Eric]

You know it’s bad when Disney behaves like a low-life politician.

[jazusamo]

You’re dead on the mark, it’s really bad.

[Artemis Webb]

Yeah this thing of Hollywood exploiting military success is so new!

[jazusamo]

I must have missed where they trademarked the name of the units back then.

[Tzimisce]

Just another day in Obamaland.

Now pay your taxes: Disney needs the money. :)

[Pan_Yan]

I remember back in the Gulf War when a reporter asked a question about Tomahawks being launched from submarines. He was told “We never discuss submarine operations.” When he asked again the spokesman ended the press conference. Now we practically invite the public to watch the planning sessions online. The next SOCOM game will probably use the names and faces of actual team members.

[jazusamo]

Yep, the media stand there and say they can't report many things and then turn right around and ask questions like that.

I specifically remember Whoraldo drawing in the sand and getting sent back to Kuwait, it should have been a lifetime expulsion but it wasn't.

[Smokin' Joe]

SEAL Team 6 ain’t a Mickey Mouse outfit. Stuff it Disney, you haven’t earned that trident.

[jazusamo]

AMEN!

[Jack Hammer]

Disgusting and offensive; Walt is probably puking in heaven.

[jazusamo]

I’ve absolutely no doubt you’re right.

[UncleHambone]

I don’t think Disney is entering untrodden territory here. Consider these video games using unit names, etc.:

Call of Duty: Big Red One
Delta Force
Delta Force 2
Delta Force: Black Hawk Down
Delta Force: Black Hawk Down – Team Sabre
Delta Force: Land Warrior
Delta Force: Task Force Dagger
Delta Force: Urban Warfare
Delta Force: Xtreme
Medal of Honor: Heroes 2
Medal of Honor: Underground
SEAL Team
Secret Service
Secret Service 2
Spec Ops II: Green Berets
Spec Ops: Ranger Team Bravo
Spec Ops: Rangers Lead the Way
The Truth About 9th Company
Tunnel Rats

Disney was not even the first to apply for the Seal Team 6 trademark.

[lentulusgracchus]

Yeah this thing of Hollywood exploiting military success is so new!

Uhhh, Artemis, Bataan wasn't a win for us. In fact, it was bigtime bad news -- much worse than the people who made the movie could know.

My dad knew a Louisiana legislator who knew -- he survived Bataan, the Death March, and the POW camps. Most honest man in the Louisiana Lege -- of course, he didn't fit in. But even the lowlives knew who he was and what he had done, so they respected his service and left him alone.

[3boysdad]

I just became aware of this on the Fox Special Report this eveniing. Disgusting. My eloquent response to this is:

FU Disney! (the company)

[BenLurkin]

UPDATE: Disney Withdraws Application To Trademark ‘SEAL Team 6’

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/2725219/posts

[jazusamo]

Thanks much for the post and ping, Ben.

I believe Disney did the right thing.