dawn@prism.UUCP (04/26/85)
> There is a law in Britain called "The Trades Descriptions Act".
The US has a variety of consumer protection laws that prohibit the
misrepresentation of a product to potential consumers. We also
have trademark laws that protect the investment that producers make in
promoting brand-names for their products.
(A trademark is a device or word that points distinctly to the
ownership or origin of the merchandise to which it is applied; it is
legally reserved to the exclusive use of the owner as maker or
seller.)
If a trademark becomes too successful, it may become synonomous
with the description of the merchandise, and cease to point clearly
to the origin or manufacturer of that merchandise. If that happens,
the company can lose its rights to the trademark; the word then falls
into the public domain. Some examples are zipper and escalator, which
were both once registered trademarks.
Because of this threat, Coca-Cola was actively prosecuting restaurant
chains that provided some other cola, when Coke was requested. Xerox
is also spending vast sums of money to remind people that Xerox is
the name of a company, not a synonym for 'photocopy'.
There is no such thing as a *generic* coke. Coke is a registered
trademark, owned by Coca-Cola. If you do not wish to indicate
a preference for a particular brand of fizzy, brown, soft-drink, then
you should request a *cola*.
So, as for those smarmy waitresses who inform you in their best
well-aren't-you-uninformed tone that, "we only sell Wally cola",
when you dare to request a Coke: they must object to your flabby
"english"! :)
(Of course, PepsiCo is probably eagerly awaiting the day when they
can advertise Pepsi coke...)
-Dawn Stockbridge-Hall.