GENERIC NAME
generic name.Trademarks. A term that describes something generally without designating the
thing’s source or creator, such as the word “car” or “sink.” • A generic name cannot be protected as
a trademark for the thing it denotes; e.g., “Apple” can be a trademark for computers but not for
apples. — Also termed generic term; generic mark; common descriptive name. [Cases: Trade
Regulation 23. C.J.S. Trade-Marks, Trade-Names, and Unfair Competition § 43.] [Blacks Law 8th]