Genericide

Genericide occurs when a brand name becomes so well-known that it starts being used generically to refer to a type of product rather than its specific brand. For example, "Kleenex" is often used to mean any tissue, and "Band-Aid" refers to any adhesive bandage. This can happen when a brand becomes dominant in its category, leading consumers to associate it with the product itself, rather than the brand. As a result, companies may lose exclusive rights to the brand name, which can harm their marketing and trademark protection.