Which legal term describes a brand name that has become synonymous with a particular class of products and whose examples include Scotch Tape, Frisbee, Xerox and Band-Aid?
Generic brand manufacturer’s product in the category it is said to have become genericized. These brand names are still legally protected but, from the point of view of the consumer, the name is synonymous with the product. Examples of genericization include Band-Aid, Vaseline and Kleenex. Due to the lack of promotion, generic brands are priced lower than branded products. They are preferred by customers for whom price or value-for-money is the priority. 57% of consumers agreed with the statement “Brand names are not better quality.” More recently, the figure inched up to 64%. Generic products are generally more popular in recessionary times,
Scotch Tape Scotch Tape Scotch Tape is a brand name used for pressure-sensitive tapes manufactured by 3M as part of the company's Scotch brand. Their magnetic recording tape products were also sold under the Scotch brand. The precursor to the current tapes was developed in the 1930s in St. Paul, Minnesota by Richard Drew to seal a then-new transparent material known as cellophane. Although it is a trademark and a brand name, "Scotch tape" is sometimes used as a generic term. The Scotch brand includes many different constructions (backings, adhesives, etc.) and colors of tape. The use of the term "Scotch" in