Adhesive bandage or Band-Aid? When a brand becomes generic

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Sep 5, 2026

General·4 min read

Adhesive bandage or Band-Aid? When a brand becomes generic Discover   How often do you ask for an adhesive bandage or a waste container? What about solid carbon dioxide? The answer is probably never, but you have certainly used the words band-aid, dumpster, or dry ice. While trademarked names are legally protected, there is little brands can do when a product is so popular that it becomes the generic name, regardless of manufacturer. While some of these common names are still trademarked brands, some have already entered the popular lexicon. Here are 10 brands that became generic names. Read full article

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