For now, Caleb Williams will not officially be known as “Iceman.”
Via Josh Gerben of GerbenLaw.com, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has issued an initial refusal of Williams’s application for trademark protection to the term. The USPTO found that the proposed mark is too similar to a trademark owned by LaCrosse for an “Iceman” line of insulated boots.
The June 24 decision concludes that the marks are identical, and that some of the products listed in Williams’s application may be confused with LaCrosse products.
Williams will have appeal rights.
The filing sparked controversy regarding the fact that former NBA star George Gervin was known as “Iceman.” Gervin, however, did not take steps to secure federal protection of the term.
Williams has explained that he made the filing as a defensive move, in order to stop others from selling “Iceman” merchandise based on Williams.