A few years ago I tried to register a domain name which included the word “purple”. I was told I couldn’t because HP had trademarked the word “purple” so it was off the list of registerable words. I pointed out that my domain was in no way related to their purple laptops and I was told tough, no-one could for any reason register any domain which included the word “purple” because HP now owned the dictionary word “purple”.

I’m still annoyed about it to this day.