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Even with the color example, there are lots of restrictions on the use of certain colors for certain uses. For example, a paint store may not be able to mix a c

• EpicEng 8y ago
  I thought that had to do with either trademark (e.g. logo for a competing company) or the method by which a color is manufactured (assuming it is not simple/obvious.) I don't believe you can literally lock down a color with no exceptions.
  • JohnFen 8y ago
    This is exactly right. First, you can't copyright a color, period. You can trademark a color, but that trademark only applies to a very specific use of that color. For instance, you can paint your house or non-delivery-service business in "UPS Brown" without fear, but you couldn't use it in conjunction with a delivery service. The purpose of trademark is to eliminate customer confusion, where they may think they're doing business with one entity when in fact they are doing business with another. Non-confusing uses of trademarks are legal.
• JohnFen 8y ago
  > a paint store may not be able to mix a certain shade of paint that is (somehow) legally “owned” by a specific brand. A paint store can legally mix paints with those colors, unless you've told them that you're going to be using the color for a trademark-infringing purpose. Stores may voluntarily decline to mix trademark colors to avoid even the possibility of a lawsuit, but it isn't legally required.