Football Meets French Vineyards: Cole Palmer in the Eye of a Unique Copyright Controversy

SOUR GRAPES

Victoria Beckham taking on and losing against Peterborough United in a battle over the nickname “Posh”. Cristiano Ronaldo trademarking the combination of his initials and shirt number, “CR7”, to boost his brand. Kylian Mbappé nabbing the rights to his iconic crossed-arms goal celebration when it almost certainly would have been far more lucrative to seize ownership of that ubiquitously annoying “cry more” gif so beloved of dullards on several Social Media Disgraces. In a football business already swamped with cash and opportunists eager to get their mitts on as much of it as they can, it ought to come as no surprise that the very top players, clubs and Peterborough try to maximise their income by making their personal “brands” off limits to potential counterfeiters, bootleggers and other ne’er-do-wells.

It seems a certain Cole “Cold” Palmer is the latest to get his legal team on the case, after it emerged the Chelsea midfielder (or more likely his Mr or Mrs 15%) instructed them to apply to trademark his famous “shivering” goal celebration and nickname. Quite apart from the fact that he nicked the former from a teammate and nobody calls him by the latter, Football Daily can’t possibly see Team Palmer hitting any snags when their case is considered by the Intellectual Property Office, who will decide whether to grant them the rights to hawk overpriced trainers, cologne, toys, drinks and other branded tat to gullible Chelsea and England fans. At least we couldn’t until we discovered a French winery had lobbed a £2,166 bottle of Château Palmer, 3ème Cru Classé into the works by blocking his application.

Founded in 1814 when the British army officer, Charles Palmer, bought the vineyard from previous owner Madame Gasque and changed its name, Château Palmer has challenged young Cole’s bid to lend his name and image exclusively to alcoholic beverages, presumably on the grounds that they were flogging wine a full 139 years before he first showcased the celebration he appropriated from Morgan Rogers at Kenilworth Road. Lawyers at the IPO will now adjudicate after receiving legal representations from both sides and in the course of their deliberations may or may not chuckle at the irony of the fact that one particular drop sold by the French vineyard glories in the name Alter Ego. Billed as being “elegant and velvety with a wonderful capacity to age and evolve”, this fruit-driven and lively Margaux sounds identical to the footballer with whom Château Palmer are currently going to war. Rather than enter into conflict, a lucrative collaboration really ought to be on the cards.

LIVE ON BIG WEBSITE

It’s a pwopa Lah’n derby this Friday night. Join Scott Murray for live Premier League updates from West Ham 0-0 Chelsea (8pm BST kick-off).

skip past newsletter promotion

Sign up to Football Daily

Kick off your evenings with the Guardian’s take on the world of football

world of football"}">Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our Privacy Policy. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

after newsletter promotion

QUOTE OF THE DAY

I don’t want any players who don’t want to come to the club. If they don’t want to come here and wear this fantastic badge, we don’t want them here. That’s very clear, and I imagine the fans feel exactly the same” – Thomas Frank makes a gossamer-veiled reference to Eberechi Eze and also channels the spirit of teenage Football Daily, who was delighted to be dumped and didn’t want to go out with them anyway.

Always Frank: yes, we’re going to bleed this particular pun dry. Photograph: Chloe Knott/Tottenham Hotspur FC/Shutterstock

I was about to send you a witty email but got a better offer from a rival at the very last minute” – Nigel Sanders.

It had passed me by that Everton had decided against a lucrative stadium sponsor and chosen to name their new ground after Benny Hill and David Dickinson. An odd combination but I’m sure they could do a better job for the Toffees up front than their current strikers” – Martyn Shapter.

Following on from Noble Francis’s letter yesterdaymight I suggest that a more appropriate shirt sponsor for Nottingham Forest could be the broadband providers who go by the name of Cuckoo?” – Paul Taverner.

Regarding OGC Nice’s new third kit: I think it is a rather nice ‘clin d’oeil’ [wink – Google Translate Ed] towards their close neighbours 13km away. Imagine wearing a Robinhood sponsored kit in the principality of Monaco” – Yannick Woudstra.

If you have any, please send letters to [email protected]. Today’s winner of our prizeless letter o’ the day is … Martyn Shapter. Terms and conditions for our competitions, when we run them, can be viewed here.  

MOVING THE GOALPOSTS

 In the latest edition of our sister email, Eveliina Summanen gets her chat on with Suzanne Wrack about how she is backing Spurs to surge up the WSL table now they have a new manager in charge.

 RECOMMENDED BOOKING

On Thursday 11 September, join Max Rushden, Barry Glendenning and Football Weekly favourites Jonathan Wilson, Nicky Bandini and Jonathan Liew for an evening of unfiltered football punditry at Troxy in London. The pod will also be livestreamed globally. Book now. 

What legal principles related to intellectual property are being contested in the dispute between Château La Fleur-Pétrus and cole Palmer?

the Unexpected collision of Sports & Intellectual Property

Chelsea midfielder Cole Palmer has found himself at the center of an unusual legal dispute, blending the worlds of professional football and French viticulture. The controversy revolves around a social media post featuring Palmer alongside a bottle of Château La Fleur-Pétrus, a prestigious Grand Cru Classé wine from Pomerol. The wine’s owners allege unauthorized use of their brand imagery, sparking a debate about influencer marketing, copyright law, and the evolving landscape of brand protection in the digital age. This case highlights the growing need for clarity surrounding brand endorsement, copyright infringement, and social media marketing regulations.

The Core of the Dispute: What Happened?

On August 18th, 2025, Cole Palmer posted an image on his Instagram account (@colepalmer) showcasing himself with a bottle of Château La Fleur-Pétrus. The post, quickly gaining traction with over 2 million likes, did not explicitly state a sponsorship or partnership with the vineyard. Château La Fleur-Pétrus claims Palmer’s post implied an endorsement without their consent, leveraging their brand reputation for commercial gain.

here’s a breakdown of the key issues:

Unauthorized Use of Brand Image: The vineyard argues that Palmer’s prominent display of their bottle constitutes unauthorized use of their intellectual property.

Implied Endorsement: The lack of a disclaimer led manny followers to believe Palmer was actively promoting the wine.

Potential Commercial Benefit: The post undoubtedly increased brand visibility for Château La Fleur-Pétrus, but without a formal agreement, the vineyard feels they have no control over how that visibility is utilized.

Influencer Marketing Regulations: This case touches upon the increasingly complex rules governing influencer marketing and the need for transparent disclosure of sponsored content.

Understanding French Copyright Law & Brand Protection

France has robust intellectual property laws, especially concerning trademarks and brand imagery. The Code de la propriété intellectuelle (French Intellectual Property Code) provides strong protection for brands against unauthorized use. Key aspects relevant to this case include:

Right of publicity: While not directly applicable to the wine bottle itself, the association with a high-profile athlete like Cole Palmer adds a layer of complexity.

Trademark Protection: Château La Fleur-Pétrus’s bottle design and label are likely trademarked, offering legal recourse against imitation or unauthorized use.

Passing Off: The vineyard could argue that Palmer’s post creates a false impression that they endorse his activities or that he is an official ambassador.

Commercial Exploitation of Image: French law protects against the unauthorized commercial exploitation of a brand’s image.

The Role of Influencers & Disclosure Requirements

The rise of social media influencers has created a gray area in advertising law. regulations, like those enforced by the Autorité de régulation professionnelle de la publicité (ARPP) in France, require clear disclosure of sponsored content.

Clarity is Key: Posts promoting products or services must clearly indicate a commercial relationship (e.g., #ad, #sponsored, #partnership).

Influencer Obligation: influencers are legally responsible for ensuring their content complies with advertising regulations.

Brand Oversight: Brands are increasingly scrutinizing influencer content to avoid legal issues and maintain brand integrity.

The ARPP Guidelines: These guidelines emphasize the need for honesty, fairness, and transparency in all advertising and marketing communications.

Potential Outcomes & Legal Precedents

The legal battle between Château La Fleur-Pétrus and Cole Palmer is still unfolding. Potential outcomes include:

1. Settlement: A negotiated agreement where Palmer agrees to issue a clarifying statement and possibly contribute to a charitable cause.
2. Financial compensation: The vineyard could seek financial compensation for the unauthorized use of their brand image.
3. **Injunction