<Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> A generic trademark, also known as a genericized trademark or proprietary eponym, is a trademark or brand name that, due to its popularity and / or significance, has become the generic name for, or synonymous with, a general class of product or service, usually against the intentions of the trademark's holder . </P> <P> A trademark is said to become genericized when it begins as a distinctive product identifier but changes in meaning to become generic . This typically happens when the products or services with which the trademark is associated have acquired substantial market dominance or mind share, such that the primary meaning of the genericized trademark becomes the product or service itself rather than an indication of source for the product or service . A trademark thus popularized has its legal protection at risk in some countries such as the United States and United Kingdom, as its intellectual property rights in the trademark may be lost and competitors enabled to use the genericized trademark to describe their similar products, unless the owner of an affected trademark works sufficiently to correct and prevent such broad use . </P> <P> Thermos, Kleenex, Cellotape, Dumpster, Elastoplast and Realtor are examples of trademarks that have become genericized in the US and elsewhere . </P>

When does a trademark become public domain or genericized