Explain the Origin of Generic Names with an Example

Question

Examlex · Accepted Answer

The Answer is A generic name is a term for a mark that has become a common term for a product line or type of service and therefore has lost its trademark protection.Once a company has been granted a trademark or service mark,the company usually uses the mark as a brand name to promote its goods or services.Obviously,the owner of the mark wants to promote its brand so that consumers and users will easily recognize the brand name.However,sometimes a company may be too successful in promoting a mark,and at some point in time,the public begins to use the brand name as a common name to denote the type of product or service being sold rather than as the trademark or service mark of the individual seller.Once a trademark becomes a generic name,the term loses its protection under federal trademark law.An example of a generic name is videotape.The word "Videotape" was first trademarked by Ampex Corporation.However,the word came to be synonymous with the product itself and it was soon rendered a generic name.

Explain the Origin of Generic Names with an Example

Definitions: