Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer has taken steps to trademark his signature celebration, “Cold Palmer,” as well as the nickname that accompanies it.
Despite this, players imitating the celebration will likely continue unabated, as legal protection won’t extend to others mimicking the gesture itself.
The 22-year-old’s celebration, where he rubs his arm to simulate a chill, has become synonymous with his goals for Chelsea and England.
Intellectual property lawyer Ben Milloy explained that Palmer is pursuing a “non-traditional trademark” by uploading a video of the shiver celebration for trademark registration.
As reported by talkSPORT, Milloy told Hawksbee & Jacobs:
“Instead of filing a name or logo, he has sought to protect a gesture or technical emotion mark.
“It covers typical merchandise, but also includes unusual items like baking powder and underwater vehicles. It’s an indication of what Cole Palmer might have planned.”
While the trademark would protect the use of the gesture in commercial contexts, such as branding and merchandise, players can still mimic the move on the pitch as a form of homage or imitation.
Interestingly, Palmer credits the inspiration for the celebration to Morgan Rogers, an Aston Villa player and his former Manchester City academy teammate.
Palmer first spotted Rogers performing the move and later adopted it as his own.
