SEALs Elude Mouse

-Submitted by David Durmm (Nal), Guest Blogger

We have previously discussed the attempt by Disney to trademark the term “Seal Team 6″, here. Disney has withdrawn its application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office “out of deference to the Navy.” Several days after Disney filed its application, the U.S. Navy filed its own application for trademarks on the phrases ‘SEAL Team’ and ‘Navy SEALs.’ The Navy had established a beachhead with its longstanding trademark of “SEALs,” which it has licensed to video game producers.

Commander Danny Hernandez, the chief Navy spokesman, said “we are fully committed to protecting our trademark rights.” Was that protection limited to judicial actions? “The request for Navy SEALs and SEAL Team was to broaden our existing portfolio,” Cmdr. Hernandez said.

Interestingly, Navy officials didn’t file an application for “SEAL Team Six.” Officially SEAL Team Six doesn’t exist. It is unknown how Disney could expect to obtain a trademark on a term, like “Seal Team 6,″ that has been widely known and used. There is a lot about trademarks that boggles the rational mind.

H/T: WSJ, The Consumerist.