7 colors that are illegal to use

Do you know that you can patent colors? Because they influence consumers’ decisions, some color hues have become the trademark of famous brands. Colors can easily affect our decisions since up to 90% of quick purchase decisions are made based solely on color. Some brand identities realize this and select distinctive hues, which can even trademark their color to guard their brand identity. In this blog post, you’ll find seven of the best-known trademarked colors, what it means to own color, and seven simple rules for selecting the right color for your brand to stand out.

Table of Contents

1. Trademarked Colors: An Overview
2. 7 Colors That Are Banned
3. Mattel Barbie Pink
4. Tiffany Blue
5. Cadbury Purple
6. T-Mobile Magenta
7. UPS Brown
8. John Deere Green
9. The University of Texas Burnt Orange
10. What is a Functional Color, and Why Can I Not Register It?
11. How to Choose Your Brand Color
12. Conclusion

Trademarked Colors:

Trademarking of colors as the concept legally grew from the thought that a particular color could be a perfect symbol of a certain company to differentiate it from others. It is legal to seek a trademark on the color in the United States if some guidelines are met here as well. One requirement is that the color has to be ‘auxiliary’, which means a color that does not have any function other than identification. This particular concept was well established after the case involving Owens-Corning when the company was given the right to trademark pink insulating material. Since then, many brands have endeavored to cover up colors associated with the products they deal with.

For businesses interested in protecting their brand assets, understanding what a trademark is and how to trademark a business color is important. A brand must show that color is integral to the branding, and if another company uses it, customers may be confused. Therefore, there are some colors that are legal issues for other businesses that can lead to legal actions being taken against them

7 Colors That Are Banned

1. Mattel Barbie Pink

• Trademarked Colors: Mattel Barbie Pink
• Pantone: 219C | Hex Code: #DA1884
• Significance: Nowadays, this shiny, flamboyant pink is popularly tied to femininity and play, not to mention Barbie's name. Mattel has fiercely guarded this color to ensure that it remains associated with products from this company alone.

2. Tiffany Blue

• Trademarked Colors: Tiffany Blue
• Pantone: 1837 | Hex Code: #81D8D0
• Significance: This color was first used in 1837, and it can be said that this color is not only as recognizable as the company logo. Described by Tiffany Blue adorning their boxes as well as their packaging, glints of glamour, elegance, and selectiveness. The brand has been legally protecting its use in a very comprehensive way.

3. Cadbury Purple

• Trademarked Colors: Cadbury Purple
• Pantone: 2685C | Hex Code: #3B0084
• Significance: Since its inception, Cadbury has associated this deep purple shade with its chocolate products, and the color is easy to recognize. To prevent its competitors from using the same color in their products, the company was able to trademark the color, thereby further strengthening the company’s brand image.

4. T-Mobile Magenta

• Trademarked Colors: T-Mobile Magenta
• Pantone: Process Magenta | Hex Code: #E20074
• Significance: T-Mobile has always associated the magenta color with its brand, which is present in ads, logos, and stores. The company has been able to tenderly protect its color trademark, making it a violation for other telecommunications companies to use it.

5. UPS Brown

• Trademarked Colors: UPS Brown
• Pantone: UPS Brown 0607298 | Hex Code: #330000
• Significance: This rich brown is recognized worldwide and has been employed by UPS since 1916. The color supports the themes of reliability and trust intrinsic to the UPS Symbol and, consequently is a protected trademark. 

6. John Deere Green

• Trademarked Colors: John Deere Green
• Pantone: 364C | Hex Code: #367C2B
• Significance: Related to farmers and tractors, John Deere Green stands for perfection and sturdiness. The specific green that the company uses is well-guarded, which makes it easily recognizable by consumers in the market. 

7. University of Texas Burnt Orange

• Trademarked Colors: Burnt Orange
• Pantone: 159 | Hex Code: #BF5700
• Significance:This colour is closely related to the University of Texas and its athletics teams. The university has since trademarked this colour, making it a very important constituent of the ‘brand.’

The Implications of Functional Colors in Trademark Registration

An example is a functional colour that serves a purpose other than the aesthetics of the item concerned. One of the main difficulties that many companies experience when registering a colour as their trademark is that if the colour is considered functional, it cannot be protected. For instance, a maker of a lawnmower cannot claim to own the color green since green actually stands for grass and nature. This means that any company can utilize that certain color without violating the rights of the trademark holder.

It is very important to understand this distinction, particularly when choosing what color to associate with your brand. It also decrees that the colors that are often used to refer to particular functions or industries are those that rarely get protection under trademark law. So, it is crucial to select the color that fits the brand concept and meaningfully stands out from the crowd to not become a functional color.

How to Choose Your Brand Color

Selecting the most appropriate brand color is critical when designing a brand image; hence, it should not be neglected. Here are some simple tips to help you pick the perfect color:

1. Understand Color Psychology:  Color Psychology in marketing and branding is known that colors can cause various emotions. For instance, blue is associated with a firm and trustworthy brand, while red is an energetic brand. Consider what emotions you need to cause in people when they see your brand.
2. Research Your Industry: Remember the color schemes that your competitors employ. This will let you easily identify the trends and discover a color that is distinctive from your competitors.
3. Test for Versatility: Ensure that your color looks good on screens or print media on company logos and products. Your brand color should fit all formats to keep the overall brand image consistent.
4. Consider Your Target Audience: Consider will attract the audience. What goes down well with one group may not be well received by another group due to the color preferences.
5. Use an AI Logo Maker: AI Logo makers, in particular, show users samples of how branding colors look when combined. They let you try other options to find a perfect color solution for your company.

Conclusion

Colors are not mere eloquences; they are branding tools capable of eliciting diverse responses from consumers. Not all colors are protected and restricted from being used by other companies, and still, choosing your brand color wisely and applying it steadily will make your brand unique. If trademarks and color psychologies are comprehensively evaluated, then selecting an appropriate color representative for your brand and to appeal to your target consumer is almost as easy as picking Barbie's doll or Tiffany's brilliant blue. 

When promoting your brand, always consider the notion that the best way to go about it is to ensure consistency. Using the color and ensuring that you apply it in all your adverts and marketing tools is a good way to make sure that your audience will stick to you and hence make your business a success.