The Rams and Chargers have had to file several new trademarks since they moved to Los Angeles, but one apparel company that was popular in the 1990s is trying to make life difficult for the two NFL franchises.
ESPN’s Darren Rovell reports that LA Gear, a shoe brand that was endorsed by star athletes like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Joe Montana in the 1990s, is trying to block trademark filings for “LA Rams” and “LA Chargers.” Because the trademarks both begin with “LA,” LA Gear feels they are too similar.
The Rams and Chargers were recently in settlement talks with LA Gear, but Filings with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office show that the Rams bowed out of the talks and filed a formal rebuttal to LA Gear trying to stake ownership to the trademark. In the reply, the Rams point out the very obvious — that LA is simply an abbreviation for Los Angeles and hundreds of apparel trademarks begin with it.
LA Gear is apparently still in settlement talks with the Chargers, though it’s unclear how long that will last.
As one trademark lawyer told Rovell, LA Gear has almost no chance of winning the case. The Rams and Chargers know that, but settling for a reasonable amount is probably worthwhile for them. Dealing with trademark issues is a common part of relocating a team, and another NFL franchise that is moving is probably facing similar nuisances.
