Genericide

Quick meaning: Genericide is a noun meaning (trademark law) The process by which trademark rights are diminished or lost as a result of common use in the marketplace.

Meaning

(trademark law) The process by which trademark rights are diminished or lost as a result of common use in the marketplace.

More Meanings

1. (uncommon) The act or process of letting a trademark term become so common that the trademark is indefensible.

Example Sentences

Escalator, cellophane, and laundromat have all lost their trademark status to genericide.

A legal determination of genericide is an instantaneous elimination of the associations between mark and product built up in the minds of consumers.

Of course, the irony is that genericide occurs at the very moment a product manager's dream comes true and the product brand becomes synonymous with the product itself.

Imagine the glee in Microsoft headquarters if Google lost its trademark protection to genericide. If “google” becomes synonymous with conducting an Internet search, then Microsoft could legally and confusingly advertise by saying: “Use Bing for all of your most complicated googling!”

Word Forms

• genericides

Synonyms for genericide

Depending on context, synonyms include genericization.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include dilution, misdescriptiveness, copywrong, discrediting, shrinkage, counterfeitment.

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