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From: holly@dartvax.UUCP (Holly Cabell)
Newsgroups: net.nlang
Subject: Re: Tradenames used as generic nouns
Message-ID: <2869@dartvax.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 26-Mar-85 23:45:08 EST
Article-I.D.: dartvax.2869
Posted: Tue Mar 26 23:45:08 1985
Date-Received: Thu, 28-Mar-85 02:51:09 EST
References: <246@rtech.ARPA> <197@osiris.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Lines: 15

> > Some tradenames are commonly used as generic terms.  If a company that
> > owns a tradename doesn't actively protect it when other companies use it,
> > then a court can rule that the name has become part of the language (i.e.
> > a generic), at least in the U.S.  Here are some examples of tradenames
> 
> 	"Zipper" is an example ...
> 
*** REPLACE THIS LINE WITH YOUR MESSAGE ***
Another company that had problems with this is 'Aspirin'.
That was a company name a while back.  Also I hear that 'Kleenex'
is fighting to keep there name a company name (trademark?)
and they are trying to get the public to use 'facial tissue'
instead of the more common name 'kleenex'.

--johnc at [the.world] ! dartvax ! holly