Color per se marks without delineated contours
Before the introduction of the new types of trademarks, registrable trademark was defined as any character(s), figure(s), sign(s), or any combination thereof with “color(s)”. Therefore, “color” per se was not the subject of trademark protection. However, now color per se marks are added to the scope of registrable trademarks, thereby “color” per se, for example, used on wrapping paper for merchandise or signboards for advertisement, can be protected as trademark.
In the following examples, one-colored trademark is shown on the left and multicolored combination trademark is shown on the right.
(Source: Pamphlet “System of Protection for New Types of Trademark” by
Japan Patent Office)