3 ms·

Highly doubt that'll happen, otherwise that probably would have happened to the word(s) kleenex, Jacuzzi, crock-pot, etc. They are all synonymous for the items

Highly doubt that'll happen, otherwise that probably would have happened to the word(s) kleenex, Jacuzzi, crock-pot, etc. They are all synonymous for the items discussed, and in fact shorter to say than the generic term for the products: "tissue paper, "hot tub", "slow cooker". It's just called brand strength...

philipodonnell 9y ago
Its not about length its about whether the term has become so ubiquitous that it identifies a category rather than just a brand. Many, many trademarks have been lost this way and Kleenex is one of those on the verge of being genericized. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleenex https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleenex > In the USA, the Kleenex name has become, or as a legal matter nearly has become, genericized: the popularity of the product has led to the use of its name to refer to any facial tissue, regardless of the brand. Many dictionaries, including Merriam-Webster and Oxford, now include definitions in their publications defining it as such. Ironically, one factor is the genericization of trademarks is whether the common usage no longer treats it as a proper noun, that is, whether it is used with or without a capitalized first letter. Your use of the lettering `kleenex` would indicate that it is no longer a brand but just a common noun, and get you a nastygram from the Kleenex marketing team about "Kleenex-brand facial tissues". :-)
mc32 9y ago
Xerox also nearly became generic. Coke for cola or even any fizzy drink in some places. I don't think Google is going to become generic.
- reaperducer 9y ago
  That's what Bayer thought about Aspirin. But I still agree with you.
  - MBCook 9y ago
    I thought they lost that trademark because of their involvement with the Nazis during World War II? Am I thinking of some other drug?
    - dragonwriter 9y ago
      It (and other of their property, intellectual and otherwise) was seized by some allied governments during WWI (not WWII), but in the US that just got it sold to a domestic company. Who then lost the aspirin trademark to genericization.
      - MBCook 9y ago
        WWI. Right. I knew it was seized by the government but I didn't realize it was given to someone else. Interesting.
  - dragonwriter 9y ago
    > That's what Bayer thought about Aspirin. Bayer lost the Aspirin trademark in the US (along with everything else) to wartime seizure of enemy property. Sterling, who got the US assets of Bayer, lost the US trademark to genericization.

philipodonnell 9y ago

Its not about length its about whether the term has become so ubiquitous that it identifies a category rather than just a brand. Many, many trademarks have been lost this way and Kleenex is one of those on the verge of being genericized. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleenex https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kleenex > In the USA, the Kleenex name has become, or as a legal matter nearly has become, genericized: the popularity of the product has led to the use of its name to refer to any facial tissue, regardless of the brand. Many dictionaries, including Merriam-Webster and Oxford, now include definitions in their publications defining it as such. Ironically, one factor is the genericization of trademarks is whether the common usage no longer treats it as a proper noun, that is, whether it is used with or without a capitalized first letter. Your use of the lettering `kleenex` would indicate that it is no longer a brand but just a common noun, and get you a nastygram from the Kleenex marketing team about "Kleenex-brand facial tissues". :-)

mc32 9y ago

Xerox also nearly became generic. Coke for cola or even any fizzy drink in some places. I don't think Google is going to become generic.

reaperducer 9y ago
That's what Bayer thought about Aspirin. But I still agree with you.
- MBCook 9y ago
  I thought they lost that trademark because of their involvement with the Nazis during World War II? Am I thinking of some other drug?
  - dragonwriter 9y ago
    It (and other of their property, intellectual and otherwise) was seized by some allied governments during WWI (not WWII), but in the US that just got it sold to a domestic company. Who then lost the aspirin trademark to genericization.
    - MBCook 9y ago
      WWI. Right. I knew it was seized by the government but I didn't realize it was given to someone else. Interesting.
- dragonwriter 9y ago
  > That's what Bayer thought about Aspirin. Bayer lost the Aspirin trademark in the US (along with everything else) to wartime seizure of enemy property. Sterling, who got the US assets of Bayer, lost the US trademark to genericization.