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0 pointslupire8mo ago0 comments

Using a trademark as a noun is automatically genericizing. Capitalization of a noun is irrelevant to trademark.

Even Apple corporation says that in their trademark guidance page, despite constantly breaking their own rule, when they call through iPhone phones "iPhone". But Apple, like founder Steve Jobs, believes the rules don't apply to them.

https://www.apple.com/legal/intellectual-property/trademark/...

0 comments

eastbound8mo ago

That explains why Steve Jobs never said “buy an iPhone” or “buy the iPhone” but “buy iPhone” (They always use it without “the” or “a”, like “buying a brand”).

lxgr8mo ago

Is that true? If so, what else should Apple call the iPhone in their marketing materials?

I always thought the actual problem of genericization would be calling any smartphone an iPhone.

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