Brand Names Which Have Become Generic

By siliconindia   |    3 Comments
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Fremont: Dilution occurs, when a well known trademarked name is used so often that it becomes generic in the view of the consumer. The following list contains names which were originally legally protected trademarks, but which have subsequently lost legal protection as trademarks and becoming the colloquial or generic description of the relevant product or service, as used both by the consuming public and commercial competitors. Xerox
Brand Names Which Have Become Generic
Xerox Corporation is a Fortune 500 global management company which was founded in 1906. It manufactures and sells a range of color and black-and-white printers, multifunction systems, photo copiers, digital production printing presses, and related consulting services and supplies. The word "Xerox" is commonly used as a synonym for "photocopy" (both as a noun and a verb); for example "I xeroxed the class notes before the exams." The company does not excuse such uses of its trademark, and is very much concerned about the ongoing use of Xerox as a verb. Such usage places the trademark in danger of being declared a generic word by the courts. The company is engaged in an ongoing campaign (advertisement and media); to convince the public that Xerox should not be used as a verb.

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