We use a wide variety of colors in our daily lives, so it may seem impossible to own a color, right? If you’ve thought this, you might be surprised to learn that some companies have legally protected specific colors. It’s possible to trademark a color strongly associated with a brand so a competitor can’t use the hue. Only certain companies have trademarked colors, and that’s the reason you won’t see competing products using the same color.
Trademarking a color is a complicated process. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) decides if a color can and should be trademarked. Even if a color is owned by a company, it can still exist in other contexts. For example, if a brand in a different industry uses it, it likely won’t be an issue. Or if you paint a picture using a specific color, that’s generally also okay because colors themselves can’t be copyrighted. However, if a popular candy company trademarks a color, other candy companies in the same industry cannot use that hue for their branding.
So, what are some trademarked colors? You likely see these shades all the time without realizing the brands own them.
1. UPS Brown
UPS Brown
Hex: #644117
RGB: 100, 65, 23
UPS (United Parcel Service) vehicles can easily be recognized by their dark brown and yellow branding. The exact brown hue of these trucks is trademarked to avoid confusion between UPS and other delivery vehicles. UPS trucks have been painted this brown, known as Pullman Brown, since 1916, but the company didn’t trademark the hue until 1998, making it the third company to trademark a color.
2. Tiffany & Co. Blue
Tiffany & Co. Blue
Hex: #81D8D0
RGB: 129, 216, 208
This light blue has been associated with the luxurious jewelry brand Tiffany & Co. since 1845. The boxes that the jewelry comes in always have this unique hue, so the company trademarked it in 1998, shortly before UPS trademarked Pullman Brown. There’s a Pantone color of this hue called 1837 Blue, which is named after the year the brand was founded. As beautiful as this blue is, no other jewelry brands can advertise with it anymore because of the trademark.
3. Reese’s Orange
Reese’s Orange
Hex: #FE5200
RGB: 254, 82, 0
On a package of Reese’s candy, you might notice a note stating that “the orange color is a registered trademark.” It’s unclear when Hershey’s trademarked this bold orange hue, but when you see this color on a candy wrapper, it’s impossible not to think of Reese’s. With this trademark in place, no other candies can use this orange in their branding.
4. Barbie Pink
Barbie Pink
Hex: #DA1984
RGB: 218, 25, 132
Bright pink is typically associated with “girly” toys like Barbie. However, Mattel wanted the exact pink used on Barbie products to be easily recognizable as Barbie Pink. It’s not just for toys, though. Any products that could have Barbie branding, such as bubble bath soap, cannot share this color if they’re not a Barbie product. Even though Barbie has been around since 1959, Mattel didn’t gain the rights to this pink until 2008. The exact hue is also known as Pantone 219C.
5. Cadbury Purple
Cadbury Purple
Hex: #330072
RGB: 51, 0, 114
Like Reese’s, Cadbury is another example of candy with a trademarked color. The deep purple hue that appears on Cadbury packaging was trademarked in 1995. The color on this packaging is more commonly known as Pantone 2685C. In 2022, this trademark came in handy when Nestlé challenged Cadbury and lost. So, even though some candies have purple packaging, none can use the exact color that Cadbury is known for.
6. Target Red
Target Red
Hex: #CC0000
RGB: 204, 0, 0
Many companies use red in their logos and advertising, but Target’s red is a trademarked color. It was officially trademarked in 2003, and its official Pantone color is called “Target Red.” You’ll see this red all over Target stores and in nearly all Target advertising. While many other brands have similar bright red logos, the company trademarked it so people wouldn’t mistake similar stores for Target.
7. Home Depot Orange
Home Depot Orange
Hex: #F96302
RGB: 249, 99, 2
Like Target, Home Depot is a chain whose signature color appears frequently around the stores and in advertising. Home Depot uses a bright orange known as Pantone 165C for its branding. In 1999, Home Depot officially trademarked this orange so the company could use it in signs, labels, and advertisements without getting mistaken for other home improvement stores. Even though Home Depot orange looks a lot like Reese’s orange, there aren’t any issues since they’re advertising two very different things.
8. Louboutin Red
Louboutin Red
Hex: #EE1F25
RGB: 238, 31, 37
Louboutin heels have signature red bottoms. It’s a somewhat similar shade to Target’s red, but since the two brands are very different, there isn’t an issue. These iconic red and black shoes appeared in 1992, and Louboutin applied for the trademark in 2008. That way, you won’t see any other shoes with the same type of red on the bottom. While this trademark is recognized in most countries, not every location honors it.
9. Post-It Yellow
Post-It Yellow
Hex: #FFFF8F
RGB: 255, 255, 143
Post-It notes come in nearly any color imaginable, but light yellow is this brand’s signature color. Canary Yellow was the original Post-It note color, but it wasn’t chosen on purpose. Instead, it was the only scrap of paper available to the creators of the Post-It note. That hue quickly became associated with sticky notes, even after other colors appeared. Post-It eventually trademarked Canary Yellow, so other paper companies can’t use it.
10. T-Mobile Pink
T-Mobile Pink
Hex: #EA0A8E
RGB: 234, 10, 142
T-Mobile’s branding has a charming magenta hue that’s unique from all other phone companies. They trademarked this bright pink color to ensure that no competitors used it. T-Mobile has gone to court several times to keep this color their own, including when AT&T tried to use a color called “Plum” that looked very similar to this pink. The court sided with T-Mobile because of the trademark.
11. Wiffle Ball Yellow
Wiffle Ball Yellow
Hex: #FFFF00
RGB: 255, 255, 0
The brand Wiffle Ball is best known for having bright yellow balls and bats. These bright yellow plastic bats and balls became popular in 1972, but the brand didn’t trademark the color until 2008. Now, no competitors can sell balls and bats of a similar hue because it could cause confusion between brands.
12. John Deere Green and Yellow
John Deere Green
Hex: #367C2B
RGB: 54, 124, 43
John Deere Yellow
Hex: #FFDE00
RGB: 255, 222, 0
John Deere, the equipment manufacturing company, couldn’t trademark its signature green color alone, but it was able to trademark the green and yellow color scheme together. The type of green they use is a functional color for many kinds of equipment associated with grass and crops, so it wouldn’t make sense for one company to own it. While you will likely see other brands with deep green equipment, none of them will have the same bold yellow paired with it.
13. Caterpillar Yellow
Caterpillar Yellow
Hex: #FFC500
RGB: 255, 197, 0
Caterpillar Inc. is an American construction company that uses this golden yellow on all its equipment. Once the company began consistently using the color, it became easy to distinguish its machinery from similar companies. Caterpillar ended up trademarking this specific yellow to ensure its products continue to stand out.
14. Fiskars Orange
Fiskars Orange
Hex: #FF8E00
RGB: 255, 142, 0
Fiskars might not be a brand you know by name, but you’ve most likely seen some of their products before. They sell crafting and gardening tools and are best known for their scissors with bright orange handles. The brand’s tools are sharp and long-lasting, so they use this orange hue to set their products apart from competitors. They first trademarked the color in 2003 in Finland, where they got started, and they later trademarked it in the US in 2007.
15. Owens-Corning Pink
Owens-Corning Pink
Hex: #FA9FCA
RGB: 250, 159, 202
Owens-Corning, an American company known for roofing, insulation, and composite materials, was the first to trademark a color in 1985. The color was first used during the company’s “Think Pink Campaign” almost 30 years before the trademark was secured. It advertised the company’s light pink insulation products with a hue similar to the Pink Panther. Even though many people associate insulation with being pink, no other insulation companies can use this exact pink to advertise their products. This trademark was put to the test in 2011 when Owens-Corning won against a UK insulation company trying to use this pink in their branding.
