Two New Ships for Disney Cruise Line (Announcement + Article by Dave) About This Page:

[papamouse]

Originally Posted by sueh818

Would they want to? The name doesn't exactly inspire confidence!

I had heard a few years back (like 2002) Someone was building a Titanic II

But rumors are that no contractors wanted to bid on the job and it died in the water (no pun intended)

[Dave Marx]

Yes, they might be able to. First off, did White Star Line obtain a trademark on the name? If they did, were they able to maintain ownership of the trademark after the ship went down, and did White Star's successor, Cunard, continue to do what was necessary to maintain this hypothetical trademark (continue to use it in commerce and renew the trademark registration)?

Outside of trademark law, there are maritime customs regarding ship naming, and for all I know, there may be some international maritime law that addresses it. That's beyond my particular expertise as a publisher who holds a trademark and various copyrights.

Regardless, why name any cruise ship Titanic, Lusitania, Andrea Doria, or Poseidon? I don't think any sailor would consider that to be a good omen, and it'd be as commercially viable as Hindenberg Airlines.

[papamouse]

Originally Posted by Dave Marx

Yes, they might be able to. First off, did White Star Line obtain a trademark on the name? If they did, were they able to maintain ownership of the trademark after the ship went down, and did White Star's successor, Cunard, continue to do what was necessary to maintain this hypothetical trademark (continue to use it in commerce and renew the trademark registration)?

Outside of trademark law, there are maritime customs regarding ship naming, and for all I know, there may be some international maritime law that addresses it. That's beyond my particular expertise as a publisher who holds a trademark and various copyrights.

Regardless, why name any cruise ship Titanic, Lusitania, Andrea Doria, or Poseidon? I don't think any sailor would consider that to be a good omen, and it'd be as commercially viable as Hindenberg Airlines.

I was thinking the same thing about maritime laws. it would be like more then one air plane having the same tail number. However we all know that no mater what aircraft the president is on it is called "Air Force One" (that was totally off topic.)

[Hartster]

Probably urban legend, but the story is that Paramount - owners of the Star Trek franchise - tried to register USS Enterprise as a trademark, until the US Navy said, "Nope." If anything, the tale has credence because when Kirk's ship is mentioned in print by Paramount or in Paramount works, it's usually as Starship Enterprise.

[Dave Marx]

Trademark applications are always open to a public comment period before the Patent and Trademark Office rules on the application. Perhaps things did happen as you describe with Star Trek. I suspect that, even without the Navy's comment, the trademark examiner would have rejected the application. When a name is already out in common usage, a trademark applicant has to show how their particular use of the term has already become the public's dominant association with that name. In other words, if Paramount had used "USS Enterprise" (rather than "NCC Enterprise" or "Starship Enterprise" or "United Federation of Planets (UFP) Enterprise") Paramount might have had to demonstrate that the fame of their "USS Enterprise" was so great that all other ships by that name were forgotten. The story is somewhat questionable, though, simply because "USS" wouldn't be used by a United Federation of Planets, and the notion of a united community of planets is pretty fundamental to the back story of Star Trek. Also, science fiction writers understand that creating new cultural/governmental institutions is one of the ways they establish their story is set in the future, rather than the present. While I can't say "busted" with any authority, I (obviously) think the story is questionable.

[mouseclub4]

Anything new on the ships. I can not wait. We are planning on sailing in 2011 on the new one if we can.

[Dave Marx]

Sorry, nothing new, and I don't expect to hear much for quite a while. As I've noted before, Disney has good reasons to keep quiet. Other cruise lines have new ships in the queue well ahead of Disney's, so if Disney were to announce new features, capabilities, programs, etc. now, the other lines are in a position to beat Disney to the punch.

[dmpyron]

Both RCI and Carnival started hinting at new features for their biggest (until they got bigger) ships. But specifics? Not on your life. As of right now, even the drawings for the Oasis of the Seas that RCI is releasing are iffy. So I suspect that DCL will slowly "leak" things out until it's time for the major hype push. I just received my package from RCI to presell the Oasis. It's got some great pictures of stateroom mock ups and some Flowrider footage, but those are easy enough to do. Disney will probably do the same thing. But only they know and, at this time, I doubt if even they know how it will happen.