Which of the following was once a trademark but has now become generic?
Which of the following was once a trademark but has now become generic?
Taser, Xerox, Popsicle, and 31 more brands-turned-household names. Google, Taser, and Xerox are all examples of brand names that have become generic words for a type of product. The process is known as genericization, and in some cases, it can result in companies losing their trademark.
Can trademarks be generic?
Combining a generic term with other terms may sometimes result in a protectable composite mark. Therefore, courts all around the world have rejected claims relating to exclusive use of generic term and have upheld the principle that generic terms cannot be accorded trademark protection.
What are some generic terms that were once trademarks?
List of protected trademarks frequently used as generic terms
| Trademarked name | Generic name | Trademark owner |
|---|---|---|
| Biro | Ballpoint pen | Société Bic |
| Bobcat | Skid-steer loader | Bobcat Company |
| Bubble Wrap | Inflated cushioning | Sealed Air |
| Bubbler | Drinking fountain | Kohler Company |
What’s it called when a brand name becomes generic?
When you use a brand name as a generic term, you’re using a proprietary eponym, or, more simply, a generic trademark. You’re probably familiar with this phenomenon, but there are more examples of it than you might realize. You may be aware of Kleenex, Velcro and ChapStick, but what about escalator?
What happens when a trademark becomes generic?
A brand mark that becomes generic loses trademark protection, brand value, and profit.
Is Coke a trademark?
The Coca-Cola Corp owns the trademark to the name Coca-Cola, as well as the trademark on the bottle shape, and the graphic representation of their name. These are all things that help distinguish them from other cola brands and define their individual product. Coca-Cola also owns the patent on their formula.
Can you trademark a regular word?
Maybe. Common words and phrases can be trademarked if the person or company seeking the trademark can demonstrate that the phrase has acquired a distinctive secondary meaning apart from its original meaning. That secondary meaning must be one that identifies the phrase with a particular good or service.
What is it called when a brand becomes a verb?
Anthimeria is the term used to describe the act of using a word in a new grammatical form, most often a noun as a verb (i.e. Xerox being used to mean photocopying something). On a positive note, this is a sign that your brand or product has been widely accepted by the general public.
Will Google lose its trademark?
Google retains its trademark though the name is used as a verb, appeals court says. A federal appeals court has ruled that Google has not lost trademark protection for its name even though some people use “google” in a generic sense as a verb for the act of searching the internet.
Can a generic drug name be a trademark?
In addition to the pharmaceutical trademark, a drug will have a chemical name, and a nonproprietary name which will be used to identify the generic form of the drug. Both international and national naming agencies will use these names.
Are there any brand names that are trademarked?
There are still plenty of familiar names that hold their trademarks. Bubble Wrap is a trademark of Sealed Air, Frisbee remains a trademark of Wham-O, and Velcro is trademarked by the company of the same name.
When do generic drugs become available in the US?
Generic drugs are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and are deemed to be as safe and effective as the brand name product. Generics cannot be sold until after the drug patent expires on the original brand name product.
How is a brand name becomes generic-the New York Times?
Velcro even made a music video about the issue. It’s a paradox that brands with fanciful names that don’t otherwise exist in common language have stronger cases when applying for a trademark. But this strength can become a weakness when it comes to protecting the trademarks against genericization.