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Subject: 
Re: 20 Years of TLC's Frustration with "LEGOS"
Newsgroups: 
lugnet.general, lugnet.loc.us.tx
Date: 
Tue, 27 Mar 2001 15:37:10 GMT
Viewed: 
3457 times
  
In lugnet.general, David Zorn writes:
In lugnet.general, Frank Filz writes:
"Kyle D. Jackson" wrote:
Yesterday I assembled a MISB 6929 Starfleet Voyager.  In
it was a catalogue copyright 1981.  On the back page was a message
that said:
"Dear Parents and Children
The word LEGO(R) is a brand name and is very special to all of us
in the LEGO Group Companies.  We would sincerely like your help
in keeping it special.  Please always refer to our bricks as
"LEGO Bricks or Toys" and not "LEGOS".  By doing so, you will
be helping to protect and preserve a brand of which we are very
proud and that stands for quality the world over.  Thank you!
   ---Susan Williams, Consumer Services"

Well, the statement glosses over, but does touch on that they are also
trying to encourage people to acknowledge LEGO as the brand and not as
the item so that people don't talk about the neat aircraft carrier made
of legos they bought in the store for $20 (from Ritvik, maker of Mega
Bloks).

How many people do you see who refer to their Mustang as a "chevy"?

Yeah, this is important for them to protect their trademark. If "Legos"
becomes synonymous with plastic building blocks according to a judge
somewhere, then people would be able to buy Megablok legos, etc.

I have a bad habit of offending them on this. Wonder if it is a regional
faux pas? Growing up in Texas it was not uncommon to hear a waitress ask,
"What kind of Coke do you want?" and the appropriate reply to be, "Dr. Pepper."

Having pretty much grown up in Texas, I can relate to David's comments.  I
don't think I've ever asked for a facial tissue, it's always been a Kleenex
regardless of the actual brand.  It very well may be a regioinal faux pas.

Build on!

Karl Barger



Message has 2 Replies:
  Re: 20 Years of TLC's Frustration with "LEGOS"
 
(...) It's the same story in much of Canada. I suppose it could be called "brand dilution" but it's somewhat inevitable if you're the most recognized brand. And it could be a good thing, I think. LEGO claims to be gunning for that title now... (...) (24 years ago, 29-Mar-01, to lugnet.general, lugnet.loc.us.tx)
  Re: 20 Years of TLC's Frustration with "LEGOS"
 
(...) How typical..:-) People calls facial tissue as "Selpak" (a local brand) here. Selçuk (24 years ago, 31-Mar-01, to lugnet.general, lugnet.loc.us.tx)

Message is in Reply To:
  Re: 20 Years of TLC's Frustration with "LEGOS"
 
(...) Yeah, this is important for them to protect their trademark. If "Legos" becomes synonymous with plastic building blocks according to a judge somewhere, then people would be able to buy Megablok legos, etc. I have a bad habit of offending them (...) (24 years ago, 26-Mar-01, to lugnet.general, lugnet.loc.us.tx)

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