7 ms·

I think its good for users to associate "App Store" with a generic place to find and download applications on any platform; like the terms "program" and "browse

by dreamux 15y ago

I think its good for users to associate "App Store" with a generic place to find and download applications on any platform; like the terms "program" and "browser" it helps to have standard ways of communicating basic concepts of computer/device use. Its a benefit to _everyone_ (Apple, Android, Microsoft...) that users can more easily interact with their systems sans training.

rcfox 15y ago
Trademarks and branding are strange things. One would assume that giving a term wide-spread use would be beneficial to everyone, but it seems that it's bad for companies. I still don't quite get it myself... For example, "Google" as a verb: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/10/do-you-google.html http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/10/do-you-google.html I assumed that "Google" as a verb is a good thing for Google. It would imply that they've managed to get a huge mindshare. Google's lawyers disagree.
- danneu 15y ago
  Because you can lose legal muscle behind your name if it becomes such common use that users might use the word without knowingly referencing your company's brand. Kleenex is the staple case.
  - eropple 15y ago
    Q-Tips are another one, IIRC. Or, of course, Spam (but Hormel has been enlightened on the topic so it hasn't been a legal issue AFAIK).
    - dmbass 15y ago
      Another classic one is Band-Aid.
      - chopsueyar 15y ago
        thermos.
        deepakshenoy 15y ago
        kerosene.
        joshwa 15y ago
        xerox. (fedex?)
  - rawsyntax 15y ago
    So the problem is that you can't prevent others from using it?
- GHFigs 15y ago
  Consider:"Bing google engine, for all your googling needs. If you ever need to google something, use Bing!"
  - georgemcbay 15y ago
    This video is 2 years old now, but still pretty funny: http://www.collegehumor.com/video/5072264/googling-with-bing http://www.collegehumor.com/video/5072264/googling-with-bing
- esrauch 15y ago
  It would be an interesting case if Google ends up becoming a legally generic term for search engine. Would the company end up changing it's name? Would there be Microsoft Google (formerly Bing) and Google Google?

by dreamux 15y ago

rcfox 15y ago

Trademarks and branding are strange things. One would assume that giving a term wide-spread use would be beneficial to everyone, but it seems that it's bad for companies. I still don't quite get it myself... For example, "Google" as a verb: http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/10/do-you-google.html http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/10/do-you-google.html I assumed that "Google" as a verb is a good thing for Google. It would imply that they've managed to get a huge mindshare. Google's lawyers disagree.

danneu 15y ago
Because you can lose legal muscle behind your name if it becomes such common use that users might use the word without knowingly referencing your company's brand. Kleenex is the staple case.
- eropple 15y ago
  Q-Tips are another one, IIRC. Or, of course, Spam (but Hormel has been enlightened on the topic so it hasn't been a legal issue AFAIK).
  - dmbass 15y ago
    Another classic one is Band-Aid.
    - chopsueyar 15y ago
      thermos.
      - deepakshenoy 15y ago
        kerosene.
        joshwa 15y ago
        xerox. (fedex?)
- rawsyntax 15y ago
  So the problem is that you can't prevent others from using it?
GHFigs 15y ago
Consider:"Bing google engine, for all your googling needs. If you ever need to google something, use Bing!"
- georgemcbay 15y ago
  This video is 2 years old now, but still pretty funny: http://www.collegehumor.com/video/5072264/googling-with-bing http://www.collegehumor.com/video/5072264/googling-with-bing
esrauch 15y ago
It would be an interesting case if Google ends up becoming a legally generic term for search engine. Would the company end up changing it's name? Would there be Microsoft Google (formerly Bing) and Google Google?