Definition of generic

The word "generic" derives from the Latin word "genus," which means "kind" or "class." In English, the term "generic" originally referred to a classification or grouping of similar things based on their shared characteristics. This usage can still be seen in scientific terminology, such as in the classification of living organisms into generic species. However, in the mid-19th century, the meaning of "generic" began to shift. In the context of trademark law, a "generic" term referred to a word or phrase that had become so commonly associated with a particular product or brand that it had lost its ability to distinguish that product from others. For example, the word "cellophane" was once a trademarked name for a transparent, cellulose-based material used for packaging, but it became so widely used to describe all similar materials that it ultimately lost its trademark status and became a generic term. Today, the concept of generic terms is a key legal issue in trademark law, with courts deciding whether a term has become so widely used that it has lost its trademark protection and become a generic word for the product or service it describes.