US 1950
Otis lost the trademark in 1950 after using "escalator" as a generic word in its own ads.
| Where | Status |
|---|---|
| United States | Free since 1950 |
Limits
None today.
Ideas
Classic lesson for brand owners.
Sources
Checked 31 October 2026. Report a correction.
More trademarks
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EarlierAspirin (generic in the US, still Bayer's in many countries)Bayer · various · Trademarks
A US court ruled "aspirin" generic in 1921. In dozens of other countries, Canada and Germany included, Aspirin is still a Bayer trademark.
US 1921 -
EarlierThermos, yo-yo, trampoline, cellophaneVarious · various · Trademarks
Former brand names that US courts or the market turned generic (thermos in 1963, yo-yo in 1965).
US 1963
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