Path: utzoo!mnetor!uunet!seismo!sundc!pitstop!sun!decwrl!labrea!agate!pasteur!ames!pacbell!att-ih!ihnp4!twitch!hoqax!twb
From: twb@hoqax.UUCP (T.W. Beattie)
Newsgroups: comp.unix.questions
Subject: Re: UNIX or Unix
Message-ID: <1408@hoqax.UUCP>
Date: 15 Apr 88 14:10:54 GMT
References: <7763@alice.UUCP> <485@flatline.UUCP> <3563@cbmvax.UUCP> <1052@mcgill-vision.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Holmdel, NJ
Lines: 19

In article <1052@mcgill-vision.UUCP>, mouse@mcgill-vision.UUCP (der Mouse) writes:
> >> [Trademarks can go generic]
> > I believe the list of trademarks-gone-generic includes aspirin,
> > linoleum, cellophane, trampoline, probably lots others; my guess is
> > that Jacuzzi and Magic Marker are the next to fall.
> 
> I'd put Band-Aid right up there.  It's either fallen or it's on its
> way.  I don't know anyone, including myself, who calls them anything
> but band-aids, even when they aren't Band-Aid(R)s.  (Except, of course,
> for other companies who make the things.)  Skil-Saw and Easy-Out are

Add Kleenex to the list.
These only become generic terms if the owner of the trademark lets them.
As long as J&J refers to Band-aid Brand adhesive bandages in their ads and
other documents and take reasonable effort to protect the trademark from other
companies infringement it stays a trademark.

Regardless of how you (or I use the term).
Tombo