# Using brand names for generic products **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [June 15, 2004, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536 "2004-06-15T20:32:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![cmason32](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/51bf81/32.png) [@cmason32](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmason32)\ **Post date:** [June 16, 2004, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/41 "2004-06-16T19:40:28Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > I can see why they have this stuff on their website, but if they think i’m going to say “I’m sending you some pictures enhanced using Adobe® Photoshop® 7.0” instead of “Here are my photoshopped pictures,” they’re kidding themselves. They probably realize that. My guess is that they have those guidelines in case someone tries to assert that Photoshop® has been genericized. That way they can claim they exercised diligence in preventing it from becoming generic. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/42 "2004-06-17T00:54:11Z")
We get letters at work (I work on a newspaper) from a guy at Portakabin, reminding us that “unless reference is specifically being made to Portakabin[sup]TM[/sup] brand portable buildings, the generic term ‘portable buildings’ must always be used.” Another guy that must be a hit at dinner parties. ---
**Author:** ![Loopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loopus/32/15343_2.png) [@Loopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopus)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/43 "2004-06-17T04:29:45Z")
> [@Weirddave](#): > > He’ll need a coke to wash it down. I’ll go get one in a styrofoam cup. ---
**Author:** ![Windwalker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/5e9695/32.png) [@Windwalker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Windwalker)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/44 "2004-06-17T04:45:30Z")
For the most part, I would think companies like Adobe would be happy about being genericized. I mean, it tends to lend legitimacy to the product; when I buy a cola, the use of “coke” instead of cola in everyday speech has given it the feeling of being the quintessential cola. If I’m not too familiar with a type of product, I would probably buy the one that has been genericized; if I had to buy a TV-recording-watching-stuff-with-lag-thing, I would get a Tivo, since that’s clearly the prototypical one-of-those-things and I don’t know much about the other options. ---
**Author:** ![cheddarsnax](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a587f6/32.png) [@cheddarsnax](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cheddarsnax)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/45 "2004-06-17T04:58:26Z")
Around here, **pizzabrat** , Kleenex is still a widely-used generic term. I hope I have not upset you. ---
**Author:** ![Cinnamon\_Girl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@Cinnamon\_Girl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cinnamon_Girl)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 5:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/46 "2004-06-17T05:14:25Z")
> [@Windwalker](#): > > For the most part, I would think companies like Adobe would be happy about being genericized. I mean, it tends to lend legitimacy to the product; when I buy a cola, the use of “coke” instead of cola in everyday speech has given it the feeling of being the quintessential cola. If I’m not too familiar with a type of product, I would probably buy the one that has been genericized; if I had to buy a TV-recording-watching-stuff-with-lag-thing, I would get a Tivo, since that’s clearly the prototypical one-of-those-things and I don’t know much about the other options. Ah, but you’re missing the point. If the mark becomes diluted by generalized usage thereby losing its trademark protection, then any schmoe can come out with their own version of the product using the exact same mark without the original trademark owner being able to do squat about it but pout and lose their precious market share. Let’s assume that Coca-Cola has lost protection on the word ‘Coke’ because everyone asks for a coke whether they prefer Pepsi, RC, or Jolt. Up and comer in the beverage industry, Fizzy Cola Company, introduces to the thirsty public ‘Retro Coke’ touting it as “Cola the way it _used_ to be.” Those of us who remember when Coca-Cola tried reformulating their product (forcing them to reintroduce “Classic Coke”) might figure Coca-Cola was screwing things up again and buy Retro Coke instead of “the Real thing,” thinking we were getting what used to be called Classic Coke, but was really originally just Coke. Confused? My point exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 6:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/47 "2004-06-17T06:10:04Z")
> [@Loopus](#): > > I’ll go get one in a styrofoam cup. Better not drink that now. If he has to use the bathroom, the only place he can go is that skanky looking porta-potty. ---
**Author:** ![Ms\_Boods](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5e9695/32.png) [@Ms\_Boods](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ms_Boods)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 6:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/48 "2004-06-17T06:12:42Z")
> [@Terminus Est](#): > > Interesting, since photocopies and mimeographs are completely different technologies. Sort of like calling a CD a “record”. I have referred to DVDs as ‘wee records what have moving pictures on them.’ 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Anachronism](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Anachronism](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anachronism)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 12:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/49 "2004-06-17T12:46:23Z")
> [@Dung Beetle](#): > > Relax! Have some Jello. If he doesn’t finish it he could put it in a Ziplock bag, or perhaps a Tupperware container. A Baggie probably wouldn’t work. I don’t really like it when people use a brand name generically but if there is not a convieient generic term that gets the point across it’s a lot better than trying to describe something. ‘Photoshop’ is a hell of a lot better than ‘digitally manipulated picture’, but why someone would say ‘Frigidair’ to describe a refrigerator is beyond me. ---
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2004, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/50 "2004-06-17T16:34:25Z")
The corporations (and the occasional individuals) that control trademarks have perfectly valid reasons for doing everything they can to control the use of their trademarks in the marketplace. But language involved in economic activity is one small corner of the language as a whole, which will flow where it wants to flow. Hence that jug of root beer is ‘pop’ or ‘soda’ or ‘coke’ or whatever, depending on where you are. ---
**Author:** ![spinky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@spinky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spinky)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/51 "2004-06-18T08:20:57Z")
> [@pizzabrat](#): > > Oh yeah. Jello. I remember reminding my elementary school peers that they were enjoying a “gelatin dessert”, and not necessarily “Jello”. …just as they remember **never talking to you again**. > [@tdn](#): > > I don’t see this as much of an issue until one has to deal with the irreparably dain-bramaged. **tdn** , allow me to introduce **pizzabrat** ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f07891/32.png) [@Little\_Plastic\_Ninja](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Plastic_Ninja)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/52 "2004-06-18T11:46:49Z")
> [@ntucker](#): > > …just as they remember **never talking to you again**. I know. I mean, I was pedantic as a kid, but keee-rist, I was never THAT pedantic. Making a ditto is making a mimeograph, which involves using that weird purple toner that gets all over your fingers. Kind of the early, really messy thing that evolved from carbon copies and would eventually sort of become a laser printer. I make photocopies, but occasionally a Xerox. A Speedo is either a Speedo or a marble-bag, but I’m charmed by grape-smuggler. I don’t care who makes it, I’m eating Jello while I blow my nose with a kleenex, which makes for a right mess. In short: if it’s more confusing or takes longer (Jello versus gelatin dessert, Speedo versus swimming trunks – them things can’t be mistaken for Uncle Ernie’s Bermuda shorts), I won’t use it. Caveat: I _do_ call it a Coke, no matter what it is. Sometimes. Mostly because I’ve been conditioned. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/53 "2004-06-18T14:55:39Z")
> [@ntucker](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > Originally Posted by tdn > > I don’t see this as much of an issue until one has to deal with the irreparably dain-bramaged. > > **tdn** , allow me to introduce **pizzabrat** I think you missed the point of his post. He was on _my_ side. ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/54 "2004-06-18T14:59:01Z")
> [@pizzabrat](#): > > I think you missed the point of his post. He was on _my_ side. Read **tdn** ’s post again. He describes someone just as clueless as you are. ---
**Author:** ![pizzabrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@pizzabrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pizzabrat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/55 "2004-06-18T15:04:48Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Read **tdn** ’s post again. He describes someone just as clueless as you are. …read _my_ OP, ranting about people who use brand names for generic products, then read **tdn** ’s story, ranting about an encounter with a woman who was incorrectly, and thus, misdirectingly using a brand name for a generic product, and then tell me who the fuck is clueless! ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/56 "2004-06-18T15:35:43Z")
> [@pizzabrat](#): > > and then tell me who the fuck is clueless! I’m going to go with Who is the Pedantic Rabid Anti-Social for $200, Alex. ---
**Author:** ![vetbridge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5e925/32.png) [@vetbridge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/vetbridge)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/57 "2004-06-18T15:56:42Z")
> [@Little Plastic Ninja](#): > > I’m charmed by grape-smuggler. Ummm…OK. “Charmed, I’m sure.” 😉 ---
**Author:** ![BiblioCat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ed8c4c/32.png) [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)\ **Post date:** [June 18, 2004, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/58 "2004-06-18T20:14:51Z")
> [@pizzabrat](#): > > Oh yeah. Jello. I remember reminding my elementary school peers that they were enjoying a “gelatin dessert”, and not necessarily “Jello”. Yeah, I remember you. You were that obnoxious kid who kept correcting us whenever we said we were using a Kleenex. “No, it’s a ‘disposable tissue’.” :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Rilchiam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/2bfe46/32.png) [@Rilchiam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rilchiam)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2004, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/59 "2004-06-20T23:03:18Z")
> [@pizzabrat](#): > > Speedos: Speedo makes all types of swimwear, including **googles** , trunks, and caps. They even make generic athletic wear. Wow, from swimwear to search engines! That’s what I call enterprising! ---
**Author:** ![StarvingButStrong](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/starvingbutstrong/32/335_2.png) [@StarvingButStrong](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StarvingButStrong)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2004, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536/60 "2004-06-21T13:45:49Z")
Wow, PizzaBrat would have a stroke if he ever saw the shopping list posted on my fridge: I use brand names for virtually _everything_ other than basic ingredients like ‘oranges’ or ‘sugar.’ For instance, the entire soap/cleaner line. In this house: dishwashing powder = Cascade clothes washing powder = Tide clothes softener = Downy dishwashing liquid = Joy deoderant bar soap = Dial non-deoderant bar soap = Ivory shampoo = Prell scouring powder = Ajax window cleaner = Windex But putting one of the above on the list doesn’t mean you’ll get that particular brand, just that I’ll buy something that fills that 'category," being whatever brand happens to be on sale or I have a coupon for or had a display that caught my eye. (The real weirdie is “Prell” – I have never bought that brand in my life, neither has hubby, neither of us used it growing up…so why did that one become the generic name? Beats me.) Why do I do this? Because it’s so much quicker to write “joy” than it is “dishwashing liquid,” Silly. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/using-brand-names-for-generic-products/250536.md?page=4)