Kleenex. Bandaid. Jello.
October 4, 2016 10:44 AM Subscribe
Please help me brainstorm cases — in all fields and domains — where a brand name has become highly genericized, as with Kleenex for facial tissue.
This is for a school-based project but brainstorm help is not contravening the assignment, I promise.
This is for a school-based project but brainstorm help is not contravening the assignment, I promise.
google
posted by noloveforned at 10:47 AM on October 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by noloveforned at 10:47 AM on October 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Scotch tape.
posted by librarianamy at 10:48 AM on October 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by librarianamy at 10:48 AM on October 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
British ones:
"Hoover" for vacuum cleaner.
"Sellotape" for what Americans call Scotch tape.
"Stanley knife" - that's a... box cutter?
posted by pipeski at 10:50 AM on October 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
"Hoover" for vacuum cleaner.
"Sellotape" for what Americans call Scotch tape.
"Stanley knife" - that's a... box cutter?
posted by pipeski at 10:50 AM on October 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Q-Tips
posted by MundaneNoodle at 10:50 AM on October 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by MundaneNoodle at 10:50 AM on October 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Saran wrap
posted by Kriesa at 10:50 AM on October 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by Kriesa at 10:50 AM on October 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
"List of generic and genericized trademarks" covers many.
posted by FallowKing at 10:50 AM on October 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
posted by FallowKing at 10:50 AM on October 4, 2016 [3 favorites]
Lego
Photoshop
Velcro
Thermos
(who's an intellectual property nerd? *this girl*)
posted by librarianamy at 10:50 AM on October 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Photoshop
Velcro
Thermos
(who's an intellectual property nerd? *this girl*)
posted by librarianamy at 10:50 AM on October 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
aspirin, thermos, linoleum, cellophane, laundromat...
posted by mochapickle at 10:50 AM on October 4, 2016
posted by mochapickle at 10:50 AM on October 4, 2016
Q-tips
Coke is the generic name for all soda pop in parts of the US
I believe Fairy Liquid is a brand of dish soap that has become a generic term in the UK
Depends and Pampers are kind of used generically in some environments
posted by pseudostrabismus at 10:50 AM on October 4, 2016
Coke is the generic name for all soda pop in parts of the US
I believe Fairy Liquid is a brand of dish soap that has become a generic term in the UK
Depends and Pampers are kind of used generically in some environments
posted by pseudostrabismus at 10:50 AM on October 4, 2016
Here's a list. You can also search "genericide" and "genericize".
posted by JimN2TAW at 10:51 AM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by JimN2TAW at 10:51 AM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
List of Generic and Genericized Trademarks
Things that surprised me: Aspirin, heroin, escalator, flip phone, trampoline...
posted by erst at 10:51 AM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Things that surprised me: Aspirin, heroin, escalator, flip phone, trampoline...
posted by erst at 10:51 AM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Aspirin and Heroin were made generic in the U.S., U.K., and France as part of the Treaty of Versailles that ended World War I.
posted by Etrigan at 10:52 AM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Etrigan at 10:52 AM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
My mom used to say "Mastercharge" to mean any credit card. She also says "Tampax" to mean tampon.
posted by radioamy at 10:54 AM on October 4, 2016
posted by radioamy at 10:54 AM on October 4, 2016
here's a failed one - they used to call any electric bass "Fender bass", which I'd still see on some old charts in the high school jazz band
posted by thelonius at 10:54 AM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by thelonius at 10:54 AM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Germany:
- Tempo (generic for packs of tissues)
- Tesa, Tesafilm (generic for clear sticky tape)
posted by The Toad at 10:57 AM on October 4, 2016
- Tempo (generic for packs of tissues)
- Tesa, Tesafilm (generic for clear sticky tape)
posted by The Toad at 10:57 AM on October 4, 2016
Rollerblades
posted by CoffeeHikeNapWine at 11:00 AM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by CoffeeHikeNapWine at 11:00 AM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Also, thanks for the links to the lists. I am interested in what people specifically recall as well as just a brainstorm.
posted by dame at 11:00 AM on October 4, 2016
posted by dame at 11:00 AM on October 4, 2016
The one that surprised me the most when I learned about it was Dumpster. Did you know Dumpster is a brand name?? Because I sure didn't until like two years ago.
Vaseline and Bandaid are some other ones. I normally try to avoid brand names vs. generic names, but with those two, that's all I can call them. (Petroleum jelly and adhesive medical strips? NO.)
posted by helloimjennsco at 11:01 AM on October 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Vaseline and Bandaid are some other ones. I normally try to avoid brand names vs. generic names, but with those two, that's all I can call them. (Petroleum jelly and adhesive medical strips? NO.)
posted by helloimjennsco at 11:01 AM on October 4, 2016 [4 favorites]
Fedex.
posted by raisingsand at 11:02 AM on October 4, 2016
posted by raisingsand at 11:02 AM on October 4, 2016
Kool-Aid.
posted by Pater Aletheias at 11:05 AM on October 4, 2016
posted by Pater Aletheias at 11:05 AM on October 4, 2016
polaroid
silly putty
slinky
frisbee
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:09 AM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
silly putty
slinky
frisbee
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:09 AM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Yo-yo.
And this is an interesting one in that Duncan had the trademark on Yo-yo and they did some pretty shitty things to destroy their competition. For example, a Duncan saleman would go into a little mom-and-pop toy store and buy an "Oh-Boy Spinning Top" (one of their biggest competitors). After buying it, they would hand back the receipt (almost always an unannotated piece of register tape) and complain that it didn't say what he bought. The exasperated clerk would invariably write "yo-yo" on the paper and hand it back. "I'm sorry, this is not a Duncan Yo-yo. This is an Oh Boy Spinning Top. How about I don't sue you for fraud and in return you stop carrying all 'Oh-Boy' products and only carry Duncan?" And this went on from store to store until eventually Duncan was able to purchase the Oh-Boy company outright. Duncan lost the trademark in 1965 not to genericization, but because they had improperly filed it, but it has since become a generic.
posted by plinth at 11:14 AM on October 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
And this is an interesting one in that Duncan had the trademark on Yo-yo and they did some pretty shitty things to destroy their competition. For example, a Duncan saleman would go into a little mom-and-pop toy store and buy an "Oh-Boy Spinning Top" (one of their biggest competitors). After buying it, they would hand back the receipt (almost always an unannotated piece of register tape) and complain that it didn't say what he bought. The exasperated clerk would invariably write "yo-yo" on the paper and hand it back. "I'm sorry, this is not a Duncan Yo-yo. This is an Oh Boy Spinning Top. How about I don't sue you for fraud and in return you stop carrying all 'Oh-Boy' products and only carry Duncan?" And this went on from store to store until eventually Duncan was able to purchase the Oh-Boy company outright. Duncan lost the trademark in 1965 not to genericization, but because they had improperly filed it, but it has since become a generic.
posted by plinth at 11:14 AM on October 4, 2016 [8 favorites]
Post-it note.
posted by Valancy Rachel at 11:17 AM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by Valancy Rachel at 11:17 AM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
Kevlar
Steri strips ( those butterfly bandages)
Off (the bug spray)
Reynolds (wrap or foil)
Crayola (s)
Sharpie
Krazy Glue
posted by Crystalinne at 11:18 AM on October 4, 2016
Steri strips ( those butterfly bandages)
Off (the bug spray)
Reynolds (wrap or foil)
Crayola (s)
Sharpie
Krazy Glue
posted by Crystalinne at 11:18 AM on October 4, 2016
Usually, the most popular consoles get genericized. An Atari, a Nintendo, a Sega, a Playstation, at a time are shorthand for "gaming console". Quite a few times I had to do some guesswork on what console someone was mentioning when they said they "wanted a game for their children's sega", usually Playstations.
Local one. Here in Porto, another name for an espresso is cimbalino, named after La Cimbali, a still very popular professional espresso machine manufacturer. "Nespresso" is becoming genericized to mean any capsule coffee, too.
posted by lmfsilva at 11:21 AM on October 4, 2016
Local one. Here in Porto, another name for an espresso is cimbalino, named after La Cimbali, a still very popular professional espresso machine manufacturer. "Nespresso" is becoming genericized to mean any capsule coffee, too.
posted by lmfsilva at 11:21 AM on October 4, 2016
Day-glo
(I would argue against Steri-strips, Off, Crayola and Reynolds wrap.)
posted by JawnBigboote at 11:33 AM on October 4, 2016
(I would argue against Steri-strips, Off, Crayola and Reynolds wrap.)
posted by JawnBigboote at 11:33 AM on October 4, 2016
Port-a-potty
Kraft Dinner/KD (used for any boxed mac and cheese, though there is only one REAL KD...)
Popsicle
Chapstick
Philly/Philadelphia (used for cream cheese)
Javex (bleach)
Speedo (bathing suit)
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 11:37 AM on October 4, 2016
Kraft Dinner/KD (used for any boxed mac and cheese, though there is only one REAL KD...)
Popsicle
Chapstick
Philly/Philadelphia (used for cream cheese)
Javex (bleach)
Speedo (bathing suit)
posted by PuppetMcSockerson at 11:37 AM on October 4, 2016
scrunchie (I think?)
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:40 AM on October 4, 2016
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:40 AM on October 4, 2016
I read a post by someone in Canada referring to the pronounciation of a garbage disposal as "dispos-ALL", claiming that it was used to distinguish the word from other types of disposal. Had to break it to him that "Dispos-All" is a brand name too. (Now defunct)
posted by Autumnheart at 12:00 PM on October 4, 2016
posted by Autumnheart at 12:00 PM on October 4, 2016
Frisbee
posted by ferret branca at 12:31 PM on October 4, 2016
posted by ferret branca at 12:31 PM on October 4, 2016
When I was shopping for a reciprocating saw I found almost everyone was just calling them Sawzalls, after one particular brand.
posted by mama casserole at 12:33 PM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by mama casserole at 12:33 PM on October 4, 2016 [1 favorite]
dustbuster (not sure how persistent this has been though)
posted by LobsterMitten at 12:35 PM on October 4, 2016
posted by LobsterMitten at 12:35 PM on October 4, 2016
French:
Frigidaire (fridge), tho "frigo" is more common these days.
Bic (ballpoint pen), tho it seems it's not that common. Luxembourgers definitely say "a bic" for a ballpoint pen.
posted by ClarissaWAM at 12:51 PM on October 4, 2016
Frigidaire (fridge), tho "frigo" is more common these days.
Bic (ballpoint pen), tho it seems it's not that common. Luxembourgers definitely say "a bic" for a ballpoint pen.
posted by ClarissaWAM at 12:51 PM on October 4, 2016
ホッチキス (hocchikisu) or Hotchkiss for staplers in Japan.
posted by AlexiaSky at 12:53 PM on October 4, 2016
posted by AlexiaSky at 12:53 PM on October 4, 2016
Foley
I.e. The tube they put in you to drain your urine.
posted by SyraCarol at 1:34 PM on October 4, 2016
I.e. The tube they put in you to drain your urine.
posted by SyraCarol at 1:34 PM on October 4, 2016
In the Netherlands:
Luxaflex (horizontal slatted blinds)
TomTom (navigation system)
Chocomel (cocoa milk)
Spa (mineral water)
Lundia (shelving system)
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:19 PM on October 4, 2016
Luxaflex (horizontal slatted blinds)
TomTom (navigation system)
Chocomel (cocoa milk)
Spa (mineral water)
Lundia (shelving system)
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:19 PM on October 4, 2016
Walkman.
iPad.
Tupperware.
Hoover.
Glassex (window cleaner).
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:25 PM on October 4, 2016
iPad.
Tupperware.
Hoover.
Glassex (window cleaner).
posted by Too-Ticky at 2:25 PM on October 4, 2016
In Australia, a duvet is known completely and thoroughly throughout the country as a doona. Doona was (is?) Ikea's duvet product, derived from the Danish dyne, pronounced doona. For some reason Australians in the 70s particularly liked this name and so now that's what it's called.
posted by goo at 2:58 PM on October 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by goo at 2:58 PM on October 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
Speedos
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:21 PM on October 4, 2016
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 3:21 PM on October 4, 2016
In Scotland, "Cashline" for cash machine/ATM - after the branded machines used by the Royal Bank of Scotland.
posted by Jabberwocky at 3:36 PM on October 4, 2016
posted by Jabberwocky at 3:36 PM on October 4, 2016
My favorite is Zamboni. (The generic term is "ice resurfacing machine.")
posted by asperity at 3:43 PM on October 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
posted by asperity at 3:43 PM on October 4, 2016 [2 favorites]
In Australia we call plastic cling wrap 'glad wrap' rather than saran wrap.
posted by kitten magic at 4:48 PM on October 4, 2016
posted by kitten magic at 4:48 PM on October 4, 2016
swiffer?
posted by LobsterMitten at 4:55 PM on October 4, 2016
posted by LobsterMitten at 4:55 PM on October 4, 2016
windex
posted by LobsterMitten at 4:58 PM on October 4, 2016
posted by LobsterMitten at 4:58 PM on October 4, 2016
Canada:
Whiteout/Liquid Paper (correction fluid)
Vico (chocolate milk)
Frigidaire (fridge)
Scotch tape (cellophane tape)
Germany:
Tippex (correction fluid)
Tempo (pocket tissue)
Pampers (diapers)
Edding (permanent marker)
New Zealand:
Twink (correction fluid)
posted by exquisite_deluxe at 5:05 PM on October 4, 2016
Whiteout/Liquid Paper (correction fluid)
Vico (chocolate milk)
Frigidaire (fridge)
Scotch tape (cellophane tape)
Germany:
Tippex (correction fluid)
Tempo (pocket tissue)
Pampers (diapers)
Edding (permanent marker)
New Zealand:
Twink (correction fluid)
posted by exquisite_deluxe at 5:05 PM on October 4, 2016
Just thought of another interesting comparison:
Dixi - portable toilet, Germany
Dixie cup - paper cup in US
posted by exquisite_deluxe at 5:16 PM on October 4, 2016
Dixi - portable toilet, Germany
Dixie cup - paper cup in US
posted by exquisite_deluxe at 5:16 PM on October 4, 2016
ranch dressing (originally Hidden Valley Ranch salad dressing)
skidoo (Ski-doo snowmobile)
lazy boy (Lay-Z-Boy recliner)
posted by danabanana at 8:51 PM on October 4, 2016
skidoo (Ski-doo snowmobile)
lazy boy (Lay-Z-Boy recliner)
posted by danabanana at 8:51 PM on October 4, 2016
More British: Tipex (correction fluid)
Although not brand name, ball point pens are referred to as "biros" in the UK after the person who made them, similar to Hotchkiss for staplers in Japan.
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 12:37 AM on October 5, 2016
Although not brand name, ball point pens are referred to as "biros" in the UK after the person who made them, similar to Hotchkiss for staplers in Japan.
posted by Ms. Moonlight at 12:37 AM on October 5, 2016
Pritt stick seems to be generic British for glue stick
In NZ all plastic wrap is "gladwrap" and all sticky plastic for covering books seems to be "Duraseal"
posted by slightlybewildered at 3:17 AM on October 5, 2016
In NZ all plastic wrap is "gladwrap" and all sticky plastic for covering books seems to be "Duraseal"
posted by slightlybewildered at 3:17 AM on October 5, 2016
Also NZ: Port-a-loo for mobile toilet/ port-a-potty
posted by slightlybewildered at 3:18 AM on October 5, 2016
posted by slightlybewildered at 3:18 AM on October 5, 2016
Australia: a felt tip pen is a 'texta'
posted by kitten magic at 3:57 AM on October 5, 2016
posted by kitten magic at 3:57 AM on October 5, 2016
Elmers, to differentiate the white glue from rubber cement
Magic Marker (could be a Philly thing)
posted by JawnBigboote at 6:28 AM on October 5, 2016
Magic Marker (could be a Philly thing)
posted by JawnBigboote at 6:28 AM on October 5, 2016
LISTSERV, which is owned by a company called L-Soft that invented the iconic email mailing list software. They're still in business.
Also, most generic names for portable USB flash drives have been brand names at some point: Thumbdrive, e.g. The exception is dongle, which is a generic term for a thing you plug into a computer to help the computer function (as opposed to enabling the thing-plugged-in to function) USB Drives don't usually fulfill the dongle role, which is usually decryption, hardware-based licensing, etc.
I've always been amused that the UKians refer to their yellow rubber gloves (for cleaning) as "marigolds." They might be named for Marigold Industrial, a company that makes them; otoh, maybe the company is named after them, and they're just named euphemistically due to the color.
posted by Sunburnt at 11:02 AM on October 5, 2016
Also, most generic names for portable USB flash drives have been brand names at some point: Thumbdrive, e.g. The exception is dongle, which is a generic term for a thing you plug into a computer to help the computer function (as opposed to enabling the thing-plugged-in to function) USB Drives don't usually fulfill the dongle role, which is usually decryption, hardware-based licensing, etc.
I've always been amused that the UKians refer to their yellow rubber gloves (for cleaning) as "marigolds." They might be named for Marigold Industrial, a company that makes them; otoh, maybe the company is named after them, and they're just named euphemistically due to the color.
posted by Sunburnt at 11:02 AM on October 5, 2016
Canola oil is a kind of special case where it's a marketing name for something that has an unmarketable name: rapeseed oil.
It's right up there with renaming the Patagonian Toothfish into Chilean Sea Bass, or the Slimehead Fish as the Orange Roughy. Apparently the Monkfish used to be known as the Goosefish. These things are generally a move to make populous and delicious junkfish into desired foods because the stocks of other foods are being depleted.
posted by Sunburnt at 2:36 PM on October 5, 2016
It's right up there with renaming the Patagonian Toothfish into Chilean Sea Bass, or the Slimehead Fish as the Orange Roughy. Apparently the Monkfish used to be known as the Goosefish. These things are generally a move to make populous and delicious junkfish into desired foods because the stocks of other foods are being depleted.
posted by Sunburnt at 2:36 PM on October 5, 2016
Nalgene
(Though I might be the only one who does this? My bf called me out on it when I kept referring to his water bottle as his Nalgene and he was all "wtf are you even saying, is that a word?")
posted by danapiper at 7:13 PM on October 5, 2016
(Though I might be the only one who does this? My bf called me out on it when I kept referring to his water bottle as his Nalgene and he was all "wtf are you even saying, is that a word?")
posted by danapiper at 7:13 PM on October 5, 2016
Wi-Fi.
posted by cincinnatus c at 6:20 AM on November 22, 2016
posted by cincinnatus c at 6:20 AM on November 22, 2016
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posted by the twistinside at 10:46 AM on October 4, 2016 [3 favorites]