□ Increased interest in well-being is expanding to colored food, color therapy, and the effects of colors. The record indicates that recent submission of trademarks shows a great increase in the use of color trademarks either with the name of colors used in trade names or with colors to decorate the marks.

o According to the KIPO in the last six years the number of trademarks using name of colors have steadily increased from 967 in 1999 to 1,411 in 2004 (46% increase from 1999).


- Green symbolizing environment-friendly harmony and balance, and blue representing calm and health were the most favored colors forming approximately 60% of the total trademarks registered. White with its image of purity, cleanness, and neatness took 15%. The color of passion, red, followed with 11%.


o At the same time, more colorful trademarks are being submitted. The number of applications was 6,138 in 2002, 7,598 in 2003 increasing by 24%, and 8,110 in 2004. Many colored trademarks were used for food industry (23%) such as confectionery, processed grains, and drinks.


□ It is believed that this increase is not only because the use of colors increases the appeal to consumers through trademarks but also buying power of consumers are easily increased by conveying the characteristics of products through colors.


o However, use of the name of colors in trademarks could be descriptive and is difficult to be registered. Moreover, trademarks consisting only of colors cannot be registered at all. Therefore, the caution must be paid to include other symbols and letters before making a submission for a trademark.