Chelsea star Cole Palmer loses bid to trademark 'Cold Palmer' as Chateau Palmer blocks claim
French winery Chateau Palmer wins in dispute over branding; case highlights tensions between athlete branding and luxury wine brands.
Chelsea and England forward Cole Palmer has lost a bid to trademark his 'Cold Palmer' nickname and a broader line of products, after Chateau Palmer, a renowned Margaux winery, successfully blocked the application.
Palmer sought to register Cold Palmer for a wide range of goods, including clothing, food items, toys, toiletries, razor blades, diet drinks and alcohol, as part of a broader plan to monetize the nickname and celebrate his on-field celebrations. The opposition came from Chateau Palmer, a well-known Bordeaux winery, which argued the mark could harm its brand and confuse consumers. The Sun reported that Chateau Palmer prevailed in the dispute and that Palmer's IP filings were updated to reflect the decision.
Chateau Palmer's wines fetch up to £750 per bottle. The vineyard traces its origins to 1814, when British Army officer Charles Palmer acquired the estate and renamed it from Chateau de Gascq. The move comes as the player remains associated with a broader branding effort that stretches beyond football and into consumer goods.
Palmer's Cold Palmer celebration began in December 2023 after a 3-2 win at Luton; he said the idea originated from fellow City academy graduate Morgan Rogers, who celebrated similarly for Middlesbrough against West Brom the week prior. Palmer has also been dealing with a groin injury and was substituted during Chelsea's 2-1 defeat at Manchester United. Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca indicated there was no plan for surgery and that the issue would be managed day by day, depending on recovery.
The decision in this branding dispute underscores the growing tension between high-profile athletes seeking to monetize their personal brands and established luxury brands that guard their reputations closely. While the outcome limits Palmer's trademark ambitions for Cold Palmer across several consumer categories, it also highlights how branding strategies for players are increasingly scrutinized in a crowded marketplace.