CADBURY'S TOLD : YOU DON'T OWN PURPLE

TRIED TO SUE RIVALS FOR USING SIGNATURE COLOUR

From news.com : Chocolate maker Cadbury has been told it does not 'own' the colour purple, as its attempt to sue a rival was rejected by Australia's Federal Court.

The company, which uses a dark shade of purple in its global marketing effort, launched legal action in 2003 in a bid to sue Australian-based confectioner Darrell Lea over its use of similar colours....

The Federal Court in Melbourne also heard Cadbury had written to a string of other rival Australian companies to highlight their use of purple, and threaten legal action if it continued.

"Cadbury does not own the colour purple and does not have an exclusive reputation in purple in connection with chocolate," Justice Heerey said.

"Darrell Lea is entitled to use purple, or any other colour, as long as it does not convey to the reasonable consumer the idea that it, or its products, have some connection with Cadbury."

The case had dragged on for three years!