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Do you know these trademarked brand names?
Many names we use for items are trademarked brand names. Find out about some common ones and how to use them correctly.
By Trust and Safety 25 August 2023
Some items where the trademarked brand name is commonly used as a generic term.
What does this mean for sellers?
| Brand name | Generic term | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| AirPods/EarPods | AirPods/EarPods | Headphones or wireless headphones | Headphones or wireless headphones |
| Astro Turf | Astro Turf | Artificial turf | Artificial turf |
| Band-aid | Band-aid | Adhesive bandage/plaster | Adhesive bandage/plaster |
| Bubble Wrap | Bubble Wrap | Sealed air roll/sheet | Sealed air roll/sheet |
| Chapstick | Chapstick | Lip balm | Lip balm |
| Crock Pot | Crock Pot | Slow cooker | Slow cooker |
| Frisbee | Frisbee | Flying disc | Flying disc |
| GIB | GIB | Plasterboard | Plasterboard |
| Hoover | Hoover | Vacuum cleaner | Vacuum cleaner |
| iPad | iPad | Tablet | Tablet |
| Nurofen | Nurofen | Ibuprofen | Ibuprofen |
| Panadol or Pamol | Panadol or Pamol | Paracetamol | Paracetamol |
| Pink Batts | Pink Batts | Insulation sheets/bales | Insulation sheets/bales |
| Portacom | Portacom | Portable building/cabin/office | Portable building/cabin/office |
| Roomba | Roomba | Robot vacuum | Robot vacuum |
| Sellotape | Sellotape | Sticky tape/adhesive tape | Sticky tape/adhesive tape |
| Speedos | Speedos | Swimming briefs/togs | Swimming briefs/togs |
| Thermos | Thermos | Insulated/thermal flask | Insulated/thermal flask |
| Tupperware | Tupperware | Food storage container | Food storage container |
| Twink/Whiteout | Twink/Whiteout | Correction fluid/tape/pen | Correction fluid/tape/pen |
| Velcro | Velcro | Hook and loop fastener | Hook and loop fastener |
| Vivid/Sharpie | Vivid/Sharpie | Permanent marker | Permanent marker |
Why does it matter?
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