Caleb Williams’ ‘Iceman’ trademark blocked by a 1988 boot company
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is not going to own the word “Iceman” yet.
The United States Patent and Trademark Office issued an initial refusal of his application on Wednesday.
The refusal has nothing to do with NBA Hall of Famer George Gervin, who carried the Iceman nickname for decades, or UFC legend Chuck Liddell, who holds his own “Iceman” trademark.
The USPTO found a likelihood of confusion with a trademark filed in 1988 by LaCrosse Footwear, an Oregon-based company that sells a line of insulated boots under the Iceman name.
LaCrosse Footwear has owned the Iceman trademark since 1988
“These marks are identical in appearance, sound and meaning,” the USPTO wrote in its refusal letter, as reported by ESPN. “Additionally, because they are identical, these marks are likely to engender the same connotation and overall commercial impression when considered in connection with applicant’s and registrant’s respective goods and/or services.”
Williams had applied for the trademark across multiple categories: clothing, athletic bags, water bottles, sporting goods, a website, and entertainment services.
Because clothing and footwear are considered related goods, the USPTO rejected the entire application rather than approving a partial subset.
Trademark attorney Josh Gerben of Gerben IP, who flagged the ruling, said Williams still has a realistic path forward.
“The registration that they’re citing here is for obviously a very limited product line. Literally insulated boots,” Gerben said. “Look, it might be harder for him to get Iceman registered for a brand of clothing items because of that, but there’s other things in his application that he could possibly still wind up with a registration here.”
There is also the possibility, Gerben noted, that LaCrosse has abandoned the trademark by no longer actively marketing Iceman boots, which could open grounds for a cancellation challenge.
Gervin’s competing application for “Iceman” and “Iceman 44” is also still under review, though it faces the same potential obstacle from the LaCrosse registration.
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