Realtors is not generic
The U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board announced on Tuesday that the term “realtor†is not generic, but instead a protectable mark. In other words, “realtor†isn’t just anyway who sells real estate, but attaches only to a member of the National Association of Realtors.
Larry Jan 28
It appears to me they may have gotten it correct. Google a definition (define:realtor) and you’ll see almost all the definitions on the web show a realtor as somebody that is a member of the National Association of Realtors. I have a 21 year old Webster’s dictionary that ONLY defines “Realtor” as a member of the Association.
Then we have the word “Windows” . . .
Rick Horowitz Jan 28
Larry: Aren’t there other terms, though, that have moved from a situation similar to the term “realtor” into such general use as to be unsuitable for protecting? (I’m not by any means knowledgeable about this. I’m just a 2L! It’s a question based on vague memories.)