Trick Question For You, Just For Fun

[Dave Zan]

LyricB Wrote:Good point. I remember once seeing an ad in Writer's Digest which pleaded with editors and writers to remember that the word "Kleenex" is copywrited.

That's trademark.

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Quote:Marks are adjectives, and should be used only as such. Marks never should be used as nouns or verbs. Nor should marks be pluralized, or used in the possessive form. Non-adjectival uses of marks, over time, can result in genericness, or a finding of unintentional abandonment, even when such use emanates from the public, rather than a trademark owner.

Kleenex is an example of how the public has made a generic noun of the Kleenex trademark to describe facial tissues. Using the word, "brand," after a mark, and before the generic product name, helps guards against non-adjectival use. Adding a generic term for trademarked products and service marked services, helps as well. For example, to help guard against the public continuing to use the word Kleenex as a generic noun for a facial tissue, Kleenex has started making themselves known as Kleenex brand facial tissues. This makes the trademark Kleenex an adjective for the brand of facial tissues.

Goes to show trademark issues aren't as simple as some might think.