Just two days after the US Navy's SEAL Team 6 took down Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan, Disney Enterprises applied for a trademark at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Just for you to note and be able to avoid any legal entanglements with Disney and see Mickey Mouse on a legal warpath, keep in mind the following:

• Serial Number 85310970: "Entertainment and education services"
• Serial Number 85310966: "Toys, games and playthings; gymnastic and sporting articles (except clothing); hand-held units for playing electronic games other than those adapted for use with an external display screen or monitor; Christmas stockings; Christmas tree ornaments and decorations; snow globes"
• Serial Number 85310957: "Clothing, footwear and headwear"

The applications basically leaves no room to maneuver if you want to commemorate the team, especially in reenactment events, milsim events, and other events that can be considered "entertainment". If you want to buy 1/6 figures with, then you might not be able to. If you want to buy patches, then they might not be available.  If you want to dress up in "SEAL Team 6" loadout, you might be sued.

Now, you ask, "Why can Disney trademark it?" They have a good legal department and found out that it can be trademarked. According to Time Magazine:

"Since the Navy has never publicly acknowledged the team's existence, it would appear the name is up for grabs. Enter Disney to snag the profits."

Everbody acknowledges that the "SEAL Team 6" is marketable, just like the G.I. Joe brand. With the US being gripped with Navy SEAL fever, everybody's cashing in, like this story at the Daily Mail. Everybody wants a piece of the SEAL name. Even before Disney trademarked the name, there are already companies capitalizing on the name, such as Luminox for their Blackout watches.

If you think you can get away wearing some "SEAL Team 6" clothing in the near future, be careful. Disney sued a couple for wearing Winnie the Pooh costumes for a million dollars.

For now the easiest way to avoid legal issues is just to stick with "US Navy SEAL", "DEVGRU", and "Naval Special Warfare Development Group" and avoid "SEAL Team 6".