Can a company own a colour?
Deutsche Telekom has been associated with magenta for decades – and not just from a marketing perspective. The company owns an EU trade mark protecting a specific shade: Magenta RAL 4010.
Day: September 30, 2026
Can a Simple Colour Scheme Land You in a Million-Dollar Trade Mark Lawsuit?
It happens more often than you think! When major brands battle over colors, the legal battle rarely hinges on the palette alone-it comes down to The Power of Context.
Can a Colour Scheme Constitute Trade Mark Infringement?
7-Eleven has sued Nike over the Air Max 95 model, which features orange, green and red stripes – colours that have been associated with the retail chain for decades. 🏪🔥
According to 7-Eleven, a similar colour scheme may lead consumers to believe that the trainers were produced as part of an official collaboration between the brands. However, no such agreement exists between the companies.
Can a Product Shape Lose Trade Mark Protection?
A guitar shape can be protected not only by copyright – it may also function as a trade mark!
This is exactly what was at stake in the dispute between Gibson and Dean Guitars. Gibson accused Armadillo Distribution Enterprises, the owner of Dean Guitars, of infringing trade marks protecting several of its iconic guitar designs, including the Flying V, Explorer and SG body shapes.
Can You Copyright the Physical Shape of a Product?
When an iconic design is copied across an industry for decades, trademark courts can rule the outline “generic”—destroying source protection. 📉 But losing trademark exclusivity doesn’t mean your design is free for competitors to steal! Smart creators rely on Applied Art Copyright as a robust second line of defense.
Can a Guitar Shape Be Protected by Copyright?
Fender is escalating the dispute over the Stratocaster’s body shape and has served a cease-and-desist notice on Yamaha. 💥
Interestingly, the case mainly concerns copyright. Previously, a German court had ruled that the distinctive shape of the Stratocaster body constituted a work of applied art eligible for copyright protection.
Can You Legally Claim Ownership Over an Entire Genre?
Many creators worry that using a familiar settingm or casting a famous genre actor will trigger a massive copyright lawsuit.
In copyright law, the boundary between legal inspiration and illegal copying comes down to one fundamental principle: Idea vs. Expression. 💡
Can the Title of a TV Series Become a Trade Mark?
Of course it can! This is perfectly illustrated by the example of the TV series “Grey’s Anatomy”.
“Grey’s Anatomy” is now more than just the name of a popular medical drama. It is also a recognisable brand that can be protected as a trade mark and function beyond the screen itself.
When Does Inspiration Become Copyright Infringement?
HBO and the creators of the hit medical drama TV series “The Pitt” are facing a lawsuit for alleged copyright infringement of the legendary 90s TV show “ER”! 📺🩺
Since before the show was released, lawyers for the Michael Crichton Estate alleged that “The Pitt” is derivative of “ER”. 📜⏳