The great debate

[Keithy]

Well I thought if a word, even if it's a brand name, enters common usage to describe all items of that type, it can't be trademarked anymore? It would never happen but I imagine, if it somehow did, it would only be limited to the region the court case occurred in.

It's a lot more complicated than that. Trademarks that are as relentlessly promoted as Coke are in no danger of being genericized. Even "Kleenex" and "Band-Aid" are still a valid trademarks, and the generic use of those words is far more widespread than that of "Coke".

I disagree that it's more complicated than that. That Wikipedia article doesn't really shed any extra information other than confirming that it's loss of secondary meaning makes it generic. Kleenex and Band-Aid as well as LEGO and Coke fight very hard to keep their trademarks. But if the use of "coke" to refer to any soda/pop will in fact cause them to lose their trademark. Just as Coke is currently protected by soda/pop, Kleenex enjoys the safety of the word "tissue" whereas if someone wanted to release a "band-aid" it might be easier. Band-Aid even changed their jingle to try and remind people it's a brand. Meaning to some of these companies it is a very real threat and a lot more simple than you imply.

 

[Sevrin]

Let it go. It's not going to happen.

 

[schlmoe]

Let it go. It's not going to happen.

I was going to respond to the prior post...but I lol'd instead.

 

[Keithy]

Let it go. It's not going to happen.

Did I say it WAS going to happen right now?
Or could I have pointed something out in jest by beginning it with "funny story" and then responded to your claims that is was complicated by pointing out it's not complicated and then even included WHY it wasn't going to happen?

 

[Jupiter551]

Coke is also a nickname for their product, Coca-Cola, rather than the product itself. Theoretically speaking, if a word that also happens to be a brand-name gains wide enough use, the trademark becomes unenforceable.
Just ask Frigidaire, manufacturers of the first refrigerators, want to have a guess what the nickname for their line of appliances was back in the early part of the 20th century?

 

[Traditio]

Besides the german words you can also see "soft drink" very often here.

 

[SoTxBob]

:lol: :lol: No offense but I have to laugh at how intense some get over such silly things.....

 

[Mitchie Lynn]

It's "Fizzy Drink" for me when growing up in London, now everyone calls it "Soft Drink".

 

[rumblejet]

It's coke here...