# Bizarre Non-Trademark Infringing Names for Popular Products **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 28, 2019, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627 "2019-05-28T05:04:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2019, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/41 "2019-05-29T23:48:33Z")
Lego is simply following its legal counsels’ advice to avoid genericide. They don’t actually hate the people they send such letters to. The people reading the letters are the ones overreacting. ---
**Author:** ![Infovore](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/infovore/32/420_2.png) [@Infovore](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Infovore)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 3:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/42 "2019-05-30T03:02:47Z")
> [@TBG](#): > > Lego people get really butthurt if you use the word Lego in a manner other than the officially “proper” way. Like I just “misused” it twice by not writing LEGO in all caps. And it only refers to the brand, so can never be pluralized. It’s not a box of Legos, it’s a box of LEGO bricks.:rolleyes: > > I’ve seen really over the top nuts go to town on message boards where someone’s dared to actually talk about Legos the way normal people do. Not anyone actually connected to the company or their lawyers, just “fans” with too much time on their HANDS. Not even a board about Legos, or toys even, just something that happened to come up once.:rolleyes::rolleyes: I used to work at Xerox in the late Eighties, and they got their undies in a serious bunch when anyone referred to “Xeroxing” something. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 3:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/43 "2019-05-30T03:16:44Z")
> [@Treppenwitz](#): > > This process was so thorough that _to this day_ I didn’t know that the _Sticky-Backed Plastic_ that they were forever using was also a brand - [Fablon.](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sticky-backed_plastic) I only found out when I did an internet search - sorry, googled it - just now I’ve never heard of “Fablon” _or_ “sticky-backed plastic.” But the pictures **look** like [Con-tact paper](https://contactbrand.com/), is that the general idea? ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/44 "2019-05-30T03:32:52Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Nobody does Internet searches anymore. We just “google it.” What is the bizarre non-trademark infringing term for this? ---
**Author:** ![Esprise\_Me](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprise_me/32/2947_2.png) [@Esprise\_Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprise_Me)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 4:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/45 "2019-05-30T04:28:57Z")
I still don’t know what else to call a Laundromat, but I’m sure the alternative is stupid. ---
**Author:** ![UDS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/ecae2f/32.png) [@UDS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UDS)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/46 "2019-05-30T05:09:58Z")
> [@Esprise\_Me](#): > > I still don’t know what else to call a Laundromat, but I’m sure the alternative is stupid. The alternative is _launderette_ or _laundrette_ which, yes, is pretty stupid. It goes back to at least 1949, according to the OED. SFAIK the “Laundromat” trademark was never used in the UK, so this term wasn’t around to be genericized in BrE. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/47 "2019-05-30T10:49:13Z")
> [@Esprise\_Me](#): > > I still don’t know what else to call a Laundromat, but I’m sure the alternative is stupid. I’m sure I’ve seen the term “Coin-operated laundry” used ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 10:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/48 "2019-05-30T10:51:48Z")
> [@Terminus\_Est](#): > > What is the bizarre non-trademark infringing term for this? Search the Internet (using a search engine)? ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/49 "2019-05-30T12:46:13Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Not quite what the OP is talking about but I encountered a product the other day in the dairy case at the supermarket called “Land O’ Lakes Fresh Buttery Taste Spread.” It looks like advertising but that’s actually the official name of the product. Still, I guess it’s a better name than “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!” I’m waiting for someone to make a knock-off of I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter called I Can’t Believe It’s Not I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/50 "2019-05-30T13:56:02Z")
> [@Acsenray](#): > > Lego is simply following its legal counsels’ advice to avoid genericide. They don’t actually hate the people they send such letters to. The people reading the letters are the ones overreacting. Yeah, but the whole Legos/Lego Bricks stuff is just dumb. I’ve had people bitch on this very board that the plural and singular are both Lego. Talk about being fanboys who need to get lives; getting butthurt about the pluralization of a children’s toy range is pretty much the epitome of toxic dorkiness. ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 2:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/51 "2019-05-30T14:07:05Z")
> [@bump](#): > > Yeah, but the whole Legos/Lego Bricks stuff is just dumb. I’ve had people bitch on this very board that the plural and singular are both Lego. > > Talk about being fanboys who need to get lives; getting butthurt about the pluralization of a children’s toy range is pretty much the epitome of toxic dorkiness. Yes, it’s dumb, but it’s not a trademark issue. I have always called them Legos, and I’m not going to stop. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/52 "2019-05-30T15:03:15Z")
> [@Infovore](#): > > Has anyone in the history of the world ever said “Bing it?” 😃 Possibly [Dixie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Lee) or [Kathryn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathryn_Crosby). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/53 "2019-05-30T15:14:58Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > Possibly [Dixie](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixie_Lee) or [Kathryn](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kathryn_Crosby). Also, [Monica](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monica_Geller) from _Friends_ probably has said it a lot. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/54 "2019-05-30T18:57:15Z")
> [@bibliophage](#): > > I believe Dumpster is no longer a live trademark though I was rather surprised at this, but indeed the trademark, first used in commerce in 1936, is no longer active in the US: [http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4805:die5eo.2.145](http://tmsearch.uspto.gov/bin/showfield?f=doc&state=4805:die5eo.2.145) I was surprised to learn that **chain gun** is a registered trademark for an externally-powered machine gun. ---
**Author:** ![DummyGladHands](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/49beb7/32.png) [@DummyGladHands](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DummyGladHands)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2019, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/55 "2019-05-30T19:15:44Z")
I used to worked somewhat peripherally in this field spotting infractions. The ones I remember are Band-Aid, Kleenex, Kitty Litter and Ping Pong. All had to be used with descriptors following them, like "Band-Aid brand sheer adhesive strip (trademark symbol) to not get flagged as violations. You would probably get a nasty gram from the co. or its attorneys if the trademark appeared in print incorrectly. ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 2:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/56 "2019-05-31T14:17:45Z")
Some of the surprising ones I’ve read in the past that lost their trademark are (off the top of my head): Gasoline, Kerosene, Trampoline, Aspirin, Oatmeal. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/57 "2019-05-31T18:30:54Z")
Who else remembers the one infamous time where Adobe put out a style guide on how to use their product name? > [@](#): > > Trademarks are not verbs. > Correct: The image was enhanced using Adobe® Photoshop® software. > Incorrect: The image was photoshopped. > > Trademarks are not nouns. > Correct: The image pokes fun at the Senator > Incorrect: The photoshop pokes fun at the Senator. > > Always capitalize and use trademarks in their correct form. > Correct:The image was enhanced with Adobe® Photoshop® Elements software. > Incorrect: The image was photoshopped. > Incorrect: The image was Photoshopped. > Incorrect: The image was Adobe® Photoshopped. > > Trademarks must never be used as slang terms. > Correct:Those who use Adobe® Photoshop® software to manipulate images as a hobby see their work as an art form. > Incorrect: A photoshopper sees his hobby as an art form. > Incorrect: My hobby is photoshopping. > > Trademarks must never be used in possessive form. > Correct: The new features in Adobe® Photoshop® software are impressive. > Incorrect: Photoshop’s new features are impressive. > > Trademarks are proper adjectives and should be followed by the generic terms they describe. > Correct: The image was manipulated using Adobe® Photoshop® software. > Incorrect: The image was manipulated using Photoshop. > > Trademarks must never be abbreviated. > Correct: Take a look at the new features in Adobe® Photoshop® software. > Incorrect: Take a look at the new features in PS. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/58 "2019-05-31T18:57:35Z")
> [@amaguri](#): > > Also on cooking shows they usually say “puffed rice cereal treats” instead of rice krispie treats Yeah, where you see this the most is on the Food Network show _Chopped_. They use a lot of brand name products in their mystery baskets, so there’s usually a couple of generic names involved per episode, like cream-filled snack cake for a Twinkie. ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [May 31, 2019, 7:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/59 "2019-05-31T19:05:39Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Here’s one I wonder about: Everyone knows that Coke and Pepsi are colas. And Sprite and 7-Up are “lemon-lime soft drinks”, which is a bit wordy, but it gets the job done. But what’s the generic term for Dr Pepper and its imitators (Mr Pibb, Dr. Popz, Dr. Thunder, etc.)? We used to called it carbonated prune juice. Re: ballpoint pens. It took me the longest time, embarrassingly, to figure out that a biro was a ballpoint pen. I always thought it was some schmancy pen people in the UK used. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [June 1, 2019, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627/60 "2019-06-01T11:49:11Z")
The producers of the cooking show \*\*Chopped \*\*are experts at what the OP is talking about. When the host, Ted Allen, is listing the ingredients to be used in a round, he will speak of “hot chili sauce” (Sriracha) or “cream-filled chocolate sandwich cookies” (Oreos). And often, the item will be shown in it’s easily identifiable packaging with all text removed. Picture a solid red Sriracha-shaped bottle with a green cap. mmm [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bizarre-non-trademark-infringing-names-for-popular-products/834627.md?page=4)