Trademark™ Me
Jeep, Keso, Permobil
Nylon, Galon, Masonite
Frigolit, Gullfiber, Fön
Vespa, Melitta, MumsMums.
Jeep, Keso, Permobil
Nylon, Galon, Masonite
Frigolit, Gullfiber, Fön
Vespa, Melitta, MumsMums.
™ heaven - behold!
If I was working in the above companies’ marketing department I’d be happy as a bee. Talk about successful branding. However that’s not what this is about. This is about how successful brands turned into genericized terms. Take a deep breath (because you might be surprised)- we’re goin’ in!
Nylon and galon was originally brands but has become a generic denomination. Nylon from DuPont and Galon from a fusion of ‘Ga’mlestadens Konstläderfabrik and ny’lon’ (!). Accepted as generic terms.
Permobil is the name of the worlds largest powered wheelchair manufacturer founded by a Swede called Per Uddén. Incorrectly referred to as powered wheelchairs in general (but never by the industry itself, trust me). Proper term is powered or electric wheelchairs and in Swedish elrullstol.
Jeep. Chryslers registered trademark for their off-road vehicle Jeep. Proper term would be off-road vehicle or SUV.
Vespa is the name of Piaggio’s line of Italian scooters. Proper denomination would be scooter.
Melitta is a German company and named after Melitta Bentz who invented the drip brew paper coffee filter. Obviously, if not referring to the specific brand, coffee filter is what you’re looking for.
Fön is a term used for hair-dryer in Swedish. Honestly I can’t remember ever saying anything else than fön. It’s supposed origin is from the German brand FOEN from AEG since 1908. The proper term I guess is hårtork, hair-dryer. I’ll never get used to that.
Frigolit is in Sweden used widely as a name for extruded polystyrene (expanderad polystyren) and derives from the brand Frigolit (Styrofoam in the US.) The industry themselves call it cellplast but it seems to be accepted as a generic term.
Assistent is also used as a very generic term for householding equipment that blends, mixes etc. Originally Electrolux’s brand. I’ve never heard the generalization of it until recently to be honest. Hushållsmaskin is a bit too fuzzy but supposedly the right term if one wants to avoid branding.
There are many more. Google or Wiki them (see, more brands becoming a generic term). All of the above are tips from nice and smart people around me followed by plain Wiki-research (because I have a life and I’m lazy). Thanks for the inspiration.
Read more about Varumärkesord or Genericized trademark.
More suggestions? All languages welcome!
Image: http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/vespa.jpg
November 23rd, 2009 at 12:25 am
I came to think of two examples in English: Kleenex and Walkman ;-)
And what about “tops” (cotton swabs)? Could it be a genericized trademark? Or is it a Swenglish word of the same kind as “freestyle” (Walkman)?
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:30 am
I find both Kleenex and Walkman on the English Wiki-list (further down in the table) but nothing on Tops (or Topz which would be the brand) when searching. Still, I’m sure you’re right.
Speaking of Walkman. If it wasn’t for the fact that most cell phones have built in mp3-players I’m sure ipod would become generical for “portable music player”.