MLB Braves vs. Disney’s “Brave”
Pixar, who has an uncanny ability to create blockbuster movies, will need some of their movie magic to solve a trademark dispute for its upcoming movie Brave. Brave is set in 10th-century Scotland, and features Merida, Pixar’s first female protagonist. The film is scheduled to open on June 22, 2012 yet is currently mired in a growing dispute with Major League Baseball’s Atlanta Braves over the title of the movie.
The Atlanta Braves have filed a Notice of Opposition with the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board temporarily blocking Disney (who now owns Pixar) from registering the term “Brave” for a variety of goods and entertainment services covering nine (9) trademark applications. Even though the Atlanta Braves do not own any registered trademark rights to the singular “Brave,” the MLB organization alleges there would be irreparable damage to them. Atlanta claims there would be confusion if Pixar used “Brave” because the singular term “Brave” is often used when referring to a single ball player from the club.
Both the Atlanta Braves and Disney have apparently entered into settlement negotiations to attempt to resolve this dispute. No word on how this trademark disagreement may affect spring training for the Atlanta Braves, who use the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex located at Walt Disney World.
Question for the MLB Braves: After the historic choke job last season, rivaled only by the Boston Red Sox ineptitude and the unforgettable choke-fest put on my my own beloved New York Mets in 2007, why would Pixar, probably the most successful movie production company in the world at turning out consistently great movies, want to be confused with the Atlanta Braves? Also, do kids really think they’re going to see a movie about a baseball team? Seriously? In an unrelated story, Native Americans are suing the Atlanta Braves for commercial disparagement.
