Does Pantone have a monopoly on colors? Is that bad?

NPR | By Sam Yellowhorse Kesler

Published July 25, 2024 at 4:09 PM EDT

The Pantone company built a business by standardizing the way designers and companies communicate about color. But one artist is challenging their color monopoly.

Listen to the full Planet Money episode: “The company that owns colors”

Sam Yellowhorse Kesler

Sam Yellowhorse Kesler is an Associate Producer for Planet Money. Previously, he's held positions at NPR's Ask Me Another & All Things Considered, and was the inaugural Code Switch Fellow. Before NPR, he interned with World Cafe from WXPN. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, and continues to reside in Philadelphia. If you want to reach him, you can try calling him. There's lots of things you can try to do. [Copyright 2025 NPR]

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Does Pantone have a monopoly on colors? Is that bad?

Support quality journalism, like the story above, with your gift right now.

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