{"id":35312,"date":"2026-08-10T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-10T06:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kpw.law\/?p=35312"},"modified":"2026-08-10T08:41:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-10T06:41:14","slug":"stripe-patterns-are-not-a-trademark","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kpw.law\/en\/stripe-patterns-are-not-a-trademark\/","title":{"rendered":"Stripe patterns are not a trademark"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull v4-pattern-hero v4-pattern-hero--post is-style-background-blend is-style-arrow has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover alignfull is-light v4-pattern-hero__cover\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);min-height:75vh;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img data-dominant-color=\"7ecc8c\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" style=\"--dominant-color: #7ecc8c;\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" sizes=\"auto, 100vw\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-35309 size-large not-transparent\" alt=\"Streifenmuster sind keine Marke, Markenrecht, Farbmarke, Muster, Unterscheidungskraft, Rechtsanwalt \" src=\"https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Streifenmuster-sind-keine-Marke-1024x576.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" srcset=\"https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Streifenmuster-sind-keine-Marke-1024x576.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Streifenmuster-sind-keine-Marke-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Streifenmuster-sind-keine-Marke-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Streifenmuster-sind-keine-Marke-1536x864.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/uploads\/Streifenmuster-sind-keine-Marke-2048x1152.jpg 2048w\" \/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-base-background-color has-background-dim-0 has-background-dim\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div style=\"height:5em\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-97ba1214 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-a6a2a725 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\r\n<h1 id=\"multirow-headline-block_ee520bd6d98171988f5c44836b627c11\" class=\"wp-block-visual4-multirow-headline\">\r\n    <div class=\"wp-block-visual4-multirow-headline\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-size:clamp(3.037rem, 3.037rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 4.938), 6rem);font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\">Stripe patterns<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-huge-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:15%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\">are not a<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-contrast-color has-text-color has-link-color has-gigantic-font-size wp-elements-ae0ffd6b2223f46eb2c2cf982ae42e44 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\"><span class=\"v4-marker-highlight-background\">trademark<\/span>.<\/p>\n\n<\/div> \r\n<\/h1>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-small-font-size is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-878d3859 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:italic;font-weight:300;text-transform:uppercase\"><div style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:300;text-transform:uppercase\" class=\"wp-block-post-date has-small-font-size\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-10T08:30:00+02:00\">10. August 2026<\/time><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">of<\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"font-style:italic;font-weight:600\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\">Clemens Pfitzer<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-content-justification-left is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-3b99a472 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A striped pattern in bright yellow and silver-gray appears thousands of times on high-visibility clothing. Can it still be protected as a trademark? The Federal Patent Court ruled against this in two identical decisions and rejected two figurative marks for protective equipment, technical materials, and textiles.  <\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<h2 id=\"h-zwei-bildmarken-ein-streifenmuster\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Two figurative marks, one striped pattern<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On June 28, 2018, an applicant filed two applications for figurative marks with the German Patent and Trademark Office. Both feature a pattern consisting of five horizontal stripes of equal width in bright yellow and silver-gray.   <\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/register.dpma.de\/DPMAregister\/marke\/de\/images\/\/44\/44\/ce3d8711bfd6a1edf336dbaf920449bb68e5.jpg\" alt=\"\" style=\"aspect-ratio:1.886279523585223;width:390px;height:auto\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/register.dpma.de\/DPMAregister\/marke\/de\/images\/\/43\/d7\/89842792b39a27bca550095d7ce7458fefc2.jpg\" alt=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both applications covered goods in Class 9, including protective and safety equipment, protective clothing, head protection, and fire-resistant clothing, as well as goods in Class 17, such as seals, adhesive tapes, and reflective strips for safety vests; and Class 24, which includes textiles and flame-retardant and fire-resistant fabrics.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The DPMA\u2019s Trademark Division for Class 24 rejected both applications in a decision dated August 4, 2020. It justified this on the grounds that the design merely represented a typical depiction of a signal stripe, as is generally common in the field of protective equipment. The applicant filed an appeal against both decisions with the Federal Patent Court.  <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The applicant&#8217;s arguments<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The applicant considered the rejection to be unfounded. She argued that the claimed combination of five strips of equal width\u2014in which two silver-gray strips are framed by three bright yellow strips\u2014could not simply be deemed to lack any distinctive character. In particular, no specific technical effect could be attributed to this particular arrangement.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, she cited three earlier registered trademarks featuring a similar design consisting of three stripes, including a color trademark without outlines. These earlier registrations, she argued, were an indication that such designs were indeed used by competitors as an indication of origin. <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Federal Patent Court dismisses both appeals<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Federal Patent Court dismissed both appeals with identical reasoning in its decisions dated July 21, 2026 (Case No. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bundespatentgericht.de\/SharedDocs\/Entscheidungen\/DE\/2026\/26590-20_21072026.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&amp;v=1\">26 W (pat) 590\/20<\/a> and Case No. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bundespatentgericht.de\/SharedDocs\/Entscheidungen\/DE\/2026\/26587-20_21072026.pdf?__blob=publicationFile&amp;v=1\">26 W (pat) 587\/20)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Both applications lack any distinctiveness within the meaning of <a href=\"https:\/\/kpw.law\/rechtsgebiet\/markenrecht\/\" data-type=\"rechtsgebiet\" data-id=\"209\">the Trademark Act<\/a> with respect to all the goods claimed. This provision requires that a trademark be capable of being perceived by the relevant public as an indication of commercial origin, and not merely as a descriptive or decorative element. <\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Yellow and Silver-Gray Are Considered Warning Colors<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Federal Patent Court (BPatG) bases its decision primarily on the significance of the colors used. The color yellow has a strong signaling effect, which can be attributed primarily to its function as a warning color in nature. Depending on the shade, specific standard meanings are also assigned to it, such as signal yellow (RAL 1003) for warning signs or traffic yellow (RAL 1023).  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In contrast, while the color silver does not have a distinct signaling meaning of its own, it does provide high contrast in the dark, as illuminated silver stripes reflect light in a directed manner. The combination of yellow and silver-gray is widely used in protective clothing and is based on the EN ISO 20471 standard for high-visibility safety clothing, which has specified the requirements for a bright background color in combination with reflective stripes since 2013. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To support its ruling, the court cited a large number of specific product examples from the market, including high-visibility caps, firefighter uniforms, high-visibility pants, and high-visibility vests, as well as backpacks designed in the same style, all of which consistently feature this color combination.<\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group v4-pattern-general-quote-box has-primary-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--60)\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--70)\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In an arrangement of five stripes of equal size, drivers do not perceive it as an indication of the vehicle\u2019s company affiliation, because the greater number of stripes actually serves a stronger protective and warning function and thus simply means \u201cmore\u201d attention.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A large number of stripes is not intended as a distinctive design feature, but rather to reinforce the warning function that is already present.<\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why the specific arrangement of the stripes makes no difference<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The applicant had argued that it was precisely the specific arrangement of five stripes with precisely defined width ratios that gave the mark its distinctiveness. The judges did not agree with this argument. The variety of possible combinations of warning stripes\u2014for example, in terms of size, number, and order\u2014is so vast on the market that the specific arrangement of five horizontal, alternating-colored stripes is not distinctive.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Nor does the rectangular basic shape of the mark applied for alter this conclusion. Very simple figurative and graphic design elements lack distinctiveness in and of themselves. With regard to the trademark featuring the additional woven texture, the court further concludes that even this impression of a textile pattern does not give the relevant public any reason to perceive the trademark as an indication of commercial origin.  <\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why the earlier entries didn&#8217;t help<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The applicant had cited three earlier registered trademarks that feature a similar pattern, albeit one consisting of three stripes. The court did not accept this argument. There was no basis for taking prior registrations by third parties into account. No further conclusions for the assessment of the specific application under review could be drawn from unmotivated registration decisions regarding other trademarks.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Senate thus adheres to the established principle that each trademark application must be assessed on its own merits. Earlier registrations that were not substantiated in detail are not binding on subsequent proceedings, even if the designs in question are similar to one another. <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How the decisions fit into existing practice<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These decisions are part of a series of rulings that are increasingly addressing the registrability of product-related designs and patterns. An earlier post also dealt with a design that was too similar to a purely decorative or functional design. In the EUIPO\u2019s decision regarding <a href=\"https:\/\/kpw.law\/en\/no-trademark-protection-for-handle-designs\/\">Philips\u2019 handle design<\/a>, a dot pattern on a razor handle was rejected for similar reasons, as consumers viewed it merely as a decoration of the handle area. Similarly, in the case of <a href=\"https:\/\/kpw.law\/en\/not-a-syringe-like-any-other\/\">the disposable syringe<\/a> by B. Braun, which was filed as a 3D trademark, a design detail that differed from that of competitors was not sufficient to confer the necessary distinctiveness on the trademark.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These cases reveal a recurring pattern in the assessment of <a href=\"https:\/\/kpw.law\/en\/topics\/brand-shapes\/\">figurative marks<\/a> and other product-related designs. The closer a mark is to a design that is customary in the industry\u2014whether functional or decorative\u2014the higher the requirements for a recognizable deviation from that standard. According to the case law of the European Court of Justice cited by the Senate regarding the so-called \u201cBirkenstock sole,\u201d this applies explicitly and equally to all categories of trademarks, regardless of whether they are figurative marks, color marks, or three-dimensional marks.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Well-known examples such as Burberry\u2019s check pattern or Louis Vuitton\u2019s monogram pattern demonstrate that genuine pattern trademarks can indeed be eligible for protection. The key difference lies in the fact that such designs serve no recognizable function beyond identification, whereas, in the Board\u2019s view, the striped design applied for here is inextricably linked to the warning function of the goods covered by the trademark. <\/p>\n\n<h2 id=\"h-fazit\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns v4-pattern-text-copy-half-col is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-f56f613f wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The outcome of these two rulings comes as no surprise. Case law has already applied a strict standard to designs that are primarily perceived as warning or safety signs in traffic.   <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The question remains as to where, in individual cases, the line is drawn between a design that is merely a warning and one that is truly distinctive. The Senate focuses primarily on the multitude of possible stripe arrangements, without, however, specifying clear criteria as to the degree of individualization at which a design might cross this threshold. For companies outside the safety and high-visibility sector that wish to use eye-catching but non-warning stripe patterns, a certain degree of legal uncertainty therefore remains regarding the scope for design that is actually available to them.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Anyone who wishes to protect an industry-specific design under trademark law should therefore develop a realistic application strategy early on, rather than relying on an obvious design.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div style=\"height:100px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--80)\">\n<div style=\"height:50px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide v4-pattern-cta-box has-secondary-background-color has-background has-global-padding is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0c8cea62 wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns alignwide are-vertically-aligned-top v4-pattern-cta-box__columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-71c143ff wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top v4-pattern-cta-box__columns-column is-layout-flow wp-container-core-column-is-layout-fb77afb0 wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-bottom:0;flex-basis:60%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignwide has-global-padding is-content-justification-right is-layout-constrained wp-container-core-group-is-layout-1931a79c wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\r\n<div id=\"multirow-headline-block_586c9c6b6b2100e3a0d068dc0c3b664f\" class=\"wp-block-visual4-multirow-headline alignwide\">\r\n    <div class=\"wp-block-visual4-multirow-headline\">\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-huge-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:1;text-transform:uppercase\">We are happy to<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-x-large-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:8%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:0.9;text-transform:uppercase\">advise you about<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-left has-huge-font-size wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-right:0;margin-bottom:0;margin-left:0%;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0;font-style:normal;font-weight:1000;line-height:0.9;text-transform:uppercase\">Trademark law!<\/p>\n\n<\/div> \r\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-9da75b5c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-visual4-contact-modal__button\">\r\n            \r\n        <div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\r\n            \r\n\r\n<div class=\"wp-block-button v4-contact-modal-button is-style-fill\" style=\"font-style:normal;font-weight:600\" data-form-id=\"8\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-contrast-color has-base-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\">Contact form<\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\n        <\/div>\r\n        \r\n    <\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-style-mobile-only is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-a768b15a wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button is-style-arrow is-style-fill\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-base-background-color has-background wp-element-button\" href=\"tel:4971141019030\" style=\"padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);font-style:normal;font-weight:600\">Call now!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top v4-pattern-cta-box__columns-column v4-pattern-cta-box__columns-column--image is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:40%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full v4-pattern-cta-box__columns-column__image\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/kpw.law\/wp-content\/themes\/kpw-law\/assets\/samples\/person-cropped.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-23155\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Federal Patent Court has ruled that two striped patterns in yellow and silver-gray lack distinctiveness as trademarks for protective gear and textiles.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4904],"tags":[5585,5453,5457,5802,6548,6547],"thema":[4895,4897],"rechtsgebiet":[4898],"produkt":[],"class_list":["post-35312","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","tag-color-mark","tag-distinctive-character","tag-distinctive-character-under-trademark-law","tag-lack-of-distinctiveness","tag-protective-equipment","tag-striped-pattern","thema-marke-en","thema-markenformen-en","rechtsgebiet-markenrecht-en"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.1 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Stripe patterns are not a trademark<\/title>\n<meta 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