View Single Post
rexell
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1

Old February 9th, 2010, 04:13 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by rob
However, there is a second problem that has arisen. The problem stems from an issue called "trademark genericization". If a trademark is allowed by its owner to become a household word that is used to generically refer to the domain of the trademark, then the trademark can be declared to have become "generic". If that happens, the trademark is lost and absolutely anyone can begin using it. Familiar examples of this include such terms as aspirin, thermos, and yo-yo. Each of these terms was originally a trademark, but the company owning the trademark was deemed to have allowed it to become genericized, which resulted in the trademark being lost.
Very interesting stuff...

Quote:
Originally Posted by rob View Post
The Army Builder product changed all that. After 12 years, the term is now synonymous with creating an army roster for play.
Now I'm no lawyer, but if like you stated above, the term "Army Builder" is in fact synonymous with "creating an army roster for play." Wouldn't you have just stated that your trademark has in fact become genericized? If the term itself is the generic word used for X, then army builder has become just like aspirin or yo-yo within the gaming community.
rexell is offline   #4