generic mark
[/dʒəˈnerɪk mɑrk/]
nounpl: generic marks
marca genérica
1. A trademark that has lost its distinctiveness and has become the common name for a category of products or services, no longer identifying a specific source
The brand 'Aspirin' became a generic mark after the company lost its trademark rights.
A marca 'Aspirina' tornou-se uma marca genérica após a empresa perder seus direitos de marca registrada.
2. A brand name that consumers use as a general term for all products of that type, regardless of manufacturer
In many countries, 'Kleenex' is used as a generic mark for facial tissues.
Em muitos países, 'Kleenex' é usada como marca genérica para lenços faciais.
3. In trademark law, a mark that primarily serves to describe the kind, quality, or characteristics of goods rather than their source
The term 'light beer' may be considered a generic mark and cannot be trademarked.
O termo 'cerveja light' pode ser considerado uma marca genérica e não pode ser registrado como marca.
This term is primarily used in legal, trademark, and intellectual property contexts in both Brazil and the United States. In Brazil, companies closely protect their trademarks to prevent genericization, which is viewed as a loss of brand value. Famous examples in Brazilian culture include 'Band-Aid' (band-aid) and 'Xerox' (xeroxar - meaning to photocopy). The concept is crucial in trademark law to distinguish between brands that maintain their distinctive character and those that become common terms.
Related Idioms & Phrases
lose trademark distinctiveness
become generic
fall into the public domain
genericization of a trademark
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