Can the post office claim copyright ownership of "the colour red"?

Question

Too late, they have done! (see new leaflet about size/thickness,small print).

Answer 1

Does this mean i'll have to change the colour of my front door?

Answer 2

No, they cannot copyright a colour. They (and indeed everyone else) can however register a colour as part of a trademark. One important difference between a copyright and a trademark is that it's only the use as a branding device for a similar or related product that is prohibited, so DHL, for example, might not be allowed to paint all their vans "Post Office Red" or a similar shade, but you're perfectly at liberty to paint your front door that colour. Another famous example is Orange - they can defend their trademark to prevent anyone else offering telecommunications products using a similar colouring brand or indeed using the word "orange", but of course it doesn't make any difference to the general usage of the colour or word.

Answer 3

Is this true? The Post Office in the UK has always been associated with 'pillar box red' and I could see that that particular shade could perhaps be claimed as theirs, but to claim copyright over the entire spectrum of red shades? I doubt that.

Answer 4

Yes they can claim ownership of one specific shade of red, which is, i suppose the pillar box red, but my local post office has a green sign, how does that work, ha.

But Ferrari did copyright their own shade of red, so can the post office

Answer 5

This is not entirely accurate. You can trademark a unique color of red if you developed it and registered it as part of a commercial trademark.

Answer 6

Oh no!!!
What is Santa going to dress in now then? That was his trademark colour!

Answer 7

You can copyright a color scheme or pattern

Answer 8

depends if its pillow box red.