Qualitex v. Jacobson Products
Qualitex Co. v. Jacobson Products Co. · 1995 · Supreme Court of the United States
What happened
The Court held that a colour alone can serve as a trademark once it has acquired secondary meaning and is not functional.
The money
No reliable public figure. This dispute matters for the rule it settled rather than for a damages number, and many trademark matters resolve on confidential terms.
What it means for your business
Single colours can be owned in a given market. Before you build a brand around one distinctive colour in your industry, check whether a competitor already registered it.