Sponsored message
Logged in as
Audience-funded nonprofit news
radio tower icon laist logo
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
Subscribe
  • Listen Now Playing Listen

This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.

This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.

News

Disney Trademarks 'Seal Team 6,' Name Of Navy Unit That Killed Osama Bin Laden

seal-team-6-six-patch-commons.jpg

One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.

To be noted in the bloody annals of opportunistic franchising, The Walt Disney Company filed trademark applications on May 3, 2011 for “Seal Team 6,” the name of the Navy SEAL special forces team that killed Osama Bin Laden on May 1, 2011, reports Fishbowl NY.

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.

Speculating that Disney may have been working on "an animated feature about a team of anthropomorphic seals in search of adventure," Fishbowl NY opts instead to suggest that the timing of the request more likely points to "capitalizing on current events." The applications, filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, are pending. The name had been previously trademarked in 2006 for computer and video gaming by NovaLogic, reports KTLA.

One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.

You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.

If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief

Make your tax-deductible donation today