You Can Get Sued For Using These 8 Colors In Your Designs
Color is one of the most powerful — and legally protected — tools in branding. What many designers don’t realize is that a company can trademark a specific shade — Mattel’s Barbie Pink alone is protected in over 100 categories — making it off-limits for competitors in the same industry.
Color trademarks are industry-specific. A trademark doesn’t grant universal ownership of a hue — it prevents rivals in the same market from using a confusingly similar shade.
The legal stakes are real. Companies have gone to court over fractions of a Pantone number. T-Mobile, for instance, has aggressively defended its magenta in multiple trademark disputes against telecom competitors across several countries.
Some brand colors are more than just a visual identity. Tiffany & Co. has owned its blue since 1998 — and its custom Pantone number, 1837, is the year the company was founded.
Business Insider has compiled a list of colors trademarked by their respective companies. Using these shades within the same industry could land you in serious legal trouble. Check them out below.
1. Mattel Barbie Pink
Pantone 219C | #DA1884
2. Tiffany Blue
Pantone 1837 | #81D8D0
3. Cadbury Purple
Pantone 2685C | #3B0084
4. T-Mobile Magenta
Process Magenta | #E20074
5. UPS Brown
Pantone UPS Brown 0607298 | #330000
6. John Deere Green
Pantone 364C | #367C2B
7. John Deere Yellow
Pantone 109C | #FFDE00
8. University of Texas: Burnt Orange
Pantone 159 | #BF5700
Know more in this video
0:06 – Companies can trademark colors 0:15 – Barbie 0:33 – Tiffany & Co. 0:46 – Cadbury 0:58 – T-Mobile 1:09 – UPS 1:20 – John Deere 1:32 – University of Texas
Color trademarks are a reminder that in branding, even a pigment can be intellectual property. If you’re a designer or brand strategist, it’s worth doing your homework before locking in a brand palette — especially in competitive, logo-heavy industries.
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Disclaimer: The color values mentioned under each color may or may not be the exact value of their respective brand’s trademarked color. Viewers are advised to undertake their own research before using any color similar to the ones listed above.
