A brand name that becomes descriptive of an entire product category
A) will still be considered a legal trademark in all states.
B) can still be registered as a trademark in other states.
C) must be licensed to other firms at a fair royalty rate.
D) will lose its legal protection as a trademark and be considered as public property.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

When a brand name becomes generic and descriptive of an entire product category, it can lose its trademark protection. This means it is no longer protected by trademark laws and can be used by anyone, essentially becoming public property. Examples include "escalator" and "aspirin" in the United States.

A Brand Name That Becomes Descriptive of an Entire Product