I think my question requires a direct response from Bambu Lab or a reference to information on their website (I couldn’t find it).
Our company creates 3D printed goods. We mainly use Bambu Lab products, including printers and filaments. I would like to tell our customers which color options we provide.
In what way am I allowed to list the colors that Bambu Lab provides, including names and hex-values?
My preferred method is to have our own company style PDF with the colors listed similarly to how they are listed in Bambus PDFs. Are we allowed to write the hex-values with their names? Should we mention Bambu Lab? Should I check if there are companies that use the same names and whether they use the same or different hex-values?
Finally, do any of the rules change if we also use filament from another supplier?
I can’t find any official info online, but as I understand from ChatGPT, we are allowed to use hex-values and color names as long as they are not trademarked. We are not allowed to use related photos or other art from Bambu Lab. It’s unclear whether I should or should not name the supplier name. Of course, ChatGPT can be wrong, hence my question here.
I’m afraid you may be overthinking the legal side of this. Also, this is a community support forum. Bambu rarely weighs in here and even if they did, it would not necessarily constitute any legal protection in this forum. I’m afraid it’s just us fellow enthusiasts here.
Short Answer: You don’t need permission to state public facts.
A few clarifications that may help distinguish between intellectual property and fair use:
• Hex values and color names are factual descriptors. No company owns a color code, and listing “Bambu Lab Red – #D32F2F” is not an IP issue. As stated, you don’t need permission to state observable facts.
• You are allowed to mention Bambu Lab by name. That falls under nominative fair use, as long as you’re not implying they endorse your products or that you’re an official partner.
• The only thing you can’t use is their proprietary material: logos, icons, graphics, artwork, or a layout that copies their trade dress. Listing colors in your own design is fine.
• There’s no need to check whether other companies use the same names for their own colors. Color names are not protected unless part of a very specific trademarked brand identity (for example, “Tiffany Blue”), and even then the protection doesn’t apply here.
• Using filament from multiple suppliers doesn’t change the rules. You can list colors from any vendor as long as you don’t copy their visual assets.
So: list the colors, list the hex codes, name the suppliers, and design your own PDF or Web Page layout. That’s all within normal practice.
Well, it depends on how you want to list them. Anything you copy and put onto your website is likely subject to copyright laws, depending on the country you reside/operate. Website links to Bambu colours might also be a potential issue as it could be interpreted that you have some kind of partnership/affiliation with Bambu which could be a misrepresentation but as long as you suggest there is no affiliation or partnership you should be ok.
I don’t see an issue using hex values if you can find the match and those colours are not in any way protected by intellectual property laws. Easiest thing to do is write to Bambu and ask the question.
You may want to try the link below and see what response you get.
OP here: Adding a reply here to everyone who responded. I’m going with the selected solution for now. I contacted BL support via the live chat. The responses I got were very short but they said I can use the names as listed on the website (e.g. “PLA Sparkle” “Royal Purple Sparkle” (#483D8B). I can mention Bambu Lab but if I do I need to mention that we are not an official partner.
