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color of law.The appearance or semblance, without the substance, of a legal right. • The term usu. implies a misuse of power made possible because the wrongdoer is clothed with the authority of the state. State action is synonymous with color of [state] law in the context of federal civil-rights statutes or criminal law. See…

color of authority.The appearance or presumption of authority sanctioning a public officer’s actions. • The authority derives from the officer’s apparent title to the office or from a writ or other apparently valid process the officer bears. [Cases: Officers and Public Employees  41. C.J.S. Officers and Public Employees §§ 11, 342.] [Blacks Law 8th]

  color of apparent organization.The appearance of corporate authority, including the assumption and exercise of corporate functions in good faith, even though the corporation’s organizers did not fully or substantially comply with the terms of the corporate charter or the statutory requirements for incorporation. See de facto corporation under CORPORATION.[Blacks Law 8th]

colore officii (k<<schwa>>-lor-ee <<schwa>>-fish-ee-I). [Latin “by color of office”] See COLOR OF OFFICE. [Blacks Law 8th]

  color book.Archaic. Int’l law. An official compilation of diplomatic documents and internal papers and reports of a government, the purpose of which is to inform the legislature and the public about foreign policy, esp. during foreign crises. • Color books reached their height of popularity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They…

Colorado River abstention.See ABSTENTION.[Blacks Law 8th]

colorable transfer.See TRANSFER. [Blacks Law 8th]

colorable transaction.See TRANSACTION. [Blacks Law 8th]

colorable-imitation test.Trademarks. A test for a trademark violation in which a court determines whether an ordinary person who is not allowed to compare the two items side by side could recognize the difference between the two. [Cases: Trade Regulation  340.1. C.J.S. Trade-Marks, Trade-Names, and Unfair Competition §§ 89, 91.] [Blacks Law 8th]

colorable imitation.Trademarks. Any mark, whether or not created with an intent to deceive, whose resemblance to a registered mark is likely to cause confusion or mistake. See SIMILARITY. [Cases: Trade Regulation  181.C.J.S. Trade-Marks, Trade-Names, and Unfair Competition §§ 169, 172.] [Blacks Law 8th]