BP Loses Trademark Case Over Color Green

June 21, 2007

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The High Court of Australia has dismissed a bid by BP to have the green Pantone colour 348C used in its logo registered as its trademark, PR Watch reports. BP has registered the color green in over 20 countries.

Justice William Gummow said (transcript): “It might be inherently adapted to mislead, might it not? … What is nature [sic] and healthy about the production or consumption of petroleum products?”

BP asserted, “To the consumer in the context of oil, your Honour, green indicates BP, not environmental friendliness.”

Justice Michael Kirby commented that “it was a clever color to have chosen so many years ago because it is now very much associated with the environmental movement.” A majority of the three judges rejected BP’s application and awarded costs against the company.

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