So, anyone who wants to write a book, make a movie or TV show or create an action figure Seal Team 6 member shooting an action figure Osama (with realFake(TM) blood spurting) has to pay Disney for the privilege.
I wonder if the Seal Team members will have to pay royalties to Disney for this patch on their uniforms.
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.
#3–I must be wrong but I thought TRADEMARK was about protecting a trade–aka==an activity as in did HP make that copy machine or did Xerox? ie–to protect the identity of the one engaged in trade/commerce/war? Along with that and separately you can COPYRIGHT images and text that you have uniquely created.
Anyone can copyright a unique rendering by way of design and colors something that incorporates “Seal Team 6″ but I would think only the Government could trademark a special ops team and that would be if its not public domain by definition?
Good example of initially good and rational ideas taken too far by “capitalistic/greedy interests. The courts are the last refuge of common sense and equity, and they seem to have broken down the last few decades–especially in the area of trademarks, copyright, patents. Pity as it does stifle creativity and progress in favor of vested interests. Unamerican in fact.
Seal Team Six is a phrase and the logo may not be an exact reproduction of the government one… I don’t know.
I have been aware for some years that after Walt D. died the company was taken over by rapacious sharks who would do anything, no matter how despicable, for money. I believe they have for some years been major investors in the porn industry. Most of their current work is not all that family values friendly in my view.
The views expressed are mine and in no way reflect my employers views or that of John C. Dvorak.
#22 “company was taken over by rapacious sharks who would do anything, no matter how despicable, for money”
It’s not just them, the NFL registered a trademark for use of the phrase “who dat” on apparel with the Florida Department of State when the Saints finally went to the Super Bowl. Then tried to force all the mom and pop shops to quit using it.
bobbo, IIRC the gubmint can’t trademark or copyright anything.
Seal Team 6 did not exist in the current timeframe per No Agenda by Dvorak and Curry.
So, how to reconcile?
That is, WTF?
In #24, Olo Baggins of Bywater said: gubmint can’t trademark or copyright anything
They can, its called public domain.
I may think his pot is definitely cracked, but give the devil his due. (Although he probably didn’t mean it as public domain.
I write a check every April 15 that gives me the right to put Seal Team 6 (or 5, or 4, or HM-15, or VF-1) on any damn thing I want. Those organizations are owned and operated by us and aren’t for sale. I’m really getting pissed off at this idiocracy.
#24, Mr. Baggins,
… gubmint can’t trademark or copyright anything.
Hmmm, I don’t know, but I understand it is a crime if you reproduce any symbol of the Federal Government or any agency.
An example would be the FBI shield. http://tinyurl.com/6xwqtmj
Copy that, put it on your car or biz card and see what happens.
Again, I don’t know as a fact, comments?
There ought to be a Law … about Profiteers mis-appropriating Public Property !!!
I think there’s a difference between government unable to copyright and using an FBI logo to impersonate a law enforcement officer. I’m curious what law prevents the use of Fed agency logos.
I do know this: government publications are not copyrighted, although some pubs may use previously copyrighted material, so watch your step. As for trademarks, I’m less certain of how that works.
Some info on the subject, but I’m too lazy to look further:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Copyright_status_of_work_by_the_U.S._government#Other_restrictions
As a contractor to the US gov, I sometimes prepare reports that are subsequently copyrighted by the company I work for. As a term of our contract with the US gov, they own all our work and we often require their permission to disclose some of those reports.
Who holds the copyright? We do but they control us. Ipso facto
Good night. Bedtime here in Laos.