JEEP a Brand name?

[Douglas G. Wilson]

>... it is exceedingly rare for a
>truly "generic" word to become a trademark. In fact, it is my understanding
>that federal law (since the 1940s) explicitly forbids it.

This assumes the infallibility of the US Government among other things.
"Thingamajig" is a US registered trademark, for example, from 1980 (generic
use, 1828). "Skivvies" is (or was) a US trademark, from 1957 (generic use,
1927, IN A SIMILAR APPLICATION).

Maybe slang or colloquial terms tend to be ignored?

-- Doug Wilson