Genericization

Some words were originally trademarked but have become generic and lost their trademark status. Is there are linguistic term for such words?

Here are some examples that I wasn’t aware were, or are, trademarked:

  • Adrenaline – also known as epinephrine, it is trademarked by Parke-Davis in the USA, but widely used generically elsewhere
  • Asprin – a medication used to treat pain, fever, or inflammation made from acetylsalicylic acid. Generic in the USA, but still trademarked by Bayer in many other countries
  • Dry ice – a solid form of carbon dioxide formerlly trademarked by the Dry Ice Corporation of America
  • Escalator – a moving staircase originally trademarked of Otis Elevator Company
  • Ping Pong – table tennis, trademarked by Parker Brothers
  • Plasticine – modelling clay, trademarked by Flair Leisure Products plc
  • Tarmac – still trademarked by Tarmac Ltd, but used generically
  • trampoline – originally trademarked by the Griswold-Nissen Trampoline & Tumbling Company
  • Velcro – still trademarked by Velcro Companies but used generically

Can you think of other examples?

Or product names that are becoming generic?

Source: Wikipedia, robdkelly.com

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