RIP: Trademarks

There are product names that you use every day. But did you know that a lot of product names used to be registered trademarks? It may sound like a compliment when the public uses your trademark as a generic name, but beware: when your trademark becomes the product’s generic name, you will lose all exclusive right to your mark. Hereunder a list of names that used to be legally protected trademarks:

• Dry ice – originally a registered trademark of Dry Ice Corporation of America
• Thermos – originally a registered trademark of Thermos GmbH
• Trampoline – originally a registered trademark of George Nissen
• Windbreaker – originally a registered trademark of John Rissman & Sons
• Zipper – originally a registered trademark of B.F. Goodrich
• Moonboots – originally a registered trademark of Technica
• Jetski – originally a registered trademark of Kawasaki
• Escalator – originally a registered trademark of Otis Elevator Company
• Butterscotch – originally a registered trademark of Parkinson’s
• Heroin – originally a registered trademark of Bayer AG
• Plexiglas –  originally a registered trademark of Altuglas International
• Petrol – originally a registered trademark of Carless, Capel and Leonard
• Videotape – originally a registered trademark of Ampex Corporation
• Hula Hoop – originally a registered trademark of Wham-O
• Lava lamp – originally a registered trademark of Mathmos
• Ping Pong – originally a registered trademark of Parker Brothers