I am flying to Nashville, TN, USA today for GPUG Summit and the pre conference Dexterity and GP Power Tools training I am presenting. Here is something fun, but with a serious underlying message.
A few days ago, the company that 40 years ago invented the “hook and loop” fastening, Velcro, released a funny video begging people to stop calling the fastening “Velcro” regardless of who actually made it.
They are trying to address the issue where the name of one of the most popular brands for a product becomes synonymous with the product itself. This becomes a problem as it is difficult to maintain a trademark when everyone is misusing the brand name. There is a legal ruling about not being keep a trademark that has become part of the common language.
Enjoy the video below:
Don’t Say Velcro (Direct Link)
They also released a behind the scenes video which discusses the reason behind the video and how they made it.
Behind The Scenes: Don’t Say Velcro (Direct Link)
The use of Brand names instead of generic names can depend on the country you live in and is more common than you think. Here is a list of some of the one I have come up with (in no particular order):
| Brand Name | Generic Term | Country |
| Velcro | hook and loop | |
| Hoover | vacuum cleaner | |
| Internet search | ||
| Band-Aid | sticky plaster | |
| Elastoplast | sticky plaster | |
| Glad Wrap | cling film | Australia |
| Saran Wrap | cling film | USA |
| Kleenex | paper tissues | |
| Q-Tips | cotton buds | USA |
| Sellotape | sticky tape | UK, Australia |
| Scotch | sticky tape | USA |
| Durex | sticky tape | USA |
| Durex | condoms | UK, Australia |
| Sharpie | permanent marker | USA |
| Xerox | photocopy | |
| Thermos | vacuum flask | |
| Teflon | anything non-stick | |
| Sprite | carbonated lemon drink | USA |
| 7-Up | carbonated lemon drink | USA |
| Sprite | lemonade | anywhere outside USA |
| 7-Up | lemonade | anywhere outside USA |
| Coke | soft drink | some parts of USA |
| Ugg | sheep skin boots | Australia |
| Esky | cooler | Australia |
| Frisbee | flying disc |
Please post comments of other examples you can think of.
Here are some related articles:
- List of generic and genericized trademarks (Wikipedia)
- 41 Brand Names People Use as Generic Terms
- 50 Common Words You Use Every Day That Are Actually Trademarked Brand Names
So next time you are Hoovering and slip on a Frisbee and then fall over an Esky and cut yourself, use a Kleenex to dry your tears and fix yourself up with a Band-Aid.
Enjoy.
David
This article was originally posted on http://www.winthropdc.com/blog.
This is an oldie, but it’s still legit in some circles. My grandmother, and everyone else her age, always called a refrigerator “The Frigidaire,” regardless of the manufacturer. I actually heard it reference on TV the other night, but I don’t remember what show I was watching. Great article!