UNIX or Unix

der Mouse mouse at mcgill-vision.UUCP
Thu Apr 14 19:32:06 AEST 1988


In article <474 at vsi.UUCP>, friedl at vsi.UUCP (Stephen J. Friedl) writes:
> In article <3563 at cbmvax.UUCP>, grr at cbmvax.UUCP (George Robbins) writes:
>> In article <485 at flatline.UUCP> erict at flatline.UUCP (eric townsend) writes:
>>> `"Foo" is a trademark of Foo, Inc.  Don't say "Foo", say "bah" --
>>> the common noun`

Which is pretty silly, because generally `Foo' is commoner than `bah'.

>> [Trademarks can go generic]
> I believe the list of trademarks-gone-generic includes aspirin,
> linoleum, cellophane, trampoline, probably lots others; my guess is
> that Jacuzzi and Magic Marker are the next to fall.

I'd put Band-Aid right up there.  It's either fallen or it's on its
way.  I don't know anyone, including myself, who calls them anything
but band-aids, even when they aren't Band-Aid(R)s.  (Except, of course,
for other companies who make the things.)  Skil-Saw and Easy-Out are
moving towards genericity too....

The problem with trying to think of these is that the really good
examples are the ones we aren't aware are (or were) trademarks!

					der Mouse

			uucp: mouse at mcgill-vision.uucp
			arpa: mouse at larry.mcrcim.mcgill.edu



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