Re: Guesses on odds/timing of names reverting back?

Twenty+ years ago I wanted to have my wedding at the Ahwahnee, but decided against it for practical reasons. But since then I've always thought it would be fun to throw an anniversary party there. But I don't want to have a party at the Grand Majestic, nor invite folks to pizza at Half Dome Village. The old names have a special meaning for me. So.....

Do folks think the issue will be resolved such that we'll get the old names back? What about timing? Could this drag on another five or ten years?

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recycling1991
Do folks think the issue will be resolved such that we'll get the old names back?

No. Neither party has reason to cave in.

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- Billy Joel

Actually, they both do. But they both disagree on what they have to gain and lose.

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My hunch is that the old names will come back, but not tomorrow. A trial, if it happens, won't begin until at least late 2019.

When all is said and done, this is a commercial dispute. DNC doesn't care about the TM registrations per se, it's peeved about losing the concession at Yosemite and wants to squeeze as much from the situation as possible, so it's saying "someone needs to pay us $61 million for the names". DNC doesn't really have anything to lose at trial, other than losing the trial itself, which would leave it a few million out of pocket in legal fees. (Presumably DNC, which still has concessions at other parks, figures the risk of suing NPS doesn't significantly reduce the likelihood of retaining those other concessions when they come up for renewal.) the So unless DNC thinks it's going to lose and therefore can gain more by settling, DNC will be happy to go to trial. On the other hand, while NPS has a viable work-around - the new names - cash-strapped NPS runs the risk of a court finding that it owes that much money to DNC (but then the TM registrations on the names revert back to NPS). So in that sense NPS has a greater incentive to settle...unless its convinced that its case is a slam-dunk.

Fact discovery is set to close later this week, with discovery of experts set to close in September. The sides should have a better idea at that point what their odds are. Don't count on a settlement before then.

Thank you for the feedback, although conflicting. I sure hope the old names come back.