{"id":5134,"date":"2008-08-19T22:19:06","date_gmt":"2008-08-20T02:19:06","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.oafe.net\/blog\/?p=5134"},"modified":"2011-08-08T22:16:27","modified_gmt":"2011-08-09T02:16:27","slug":"a-note-about-transformers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.oafe.net\/blog\/2008\/08\/a-note-about-transformers\/","title":{"rendered":"A note about Transformers"},"content":{"rendered":"

In today's TF Classics Nemesis Prime<\/a> review, yo pointed out that Hasbro always says the toys \"convert\" or \"morph,\" never that they \"transform.\" Know why they do that? To help protect their trademark.<\/p>\n

When a particular brand-name becomes so<\/b> identified with a certain product, that name can become a genericized trademark<\/a> - the word you say when you mean the product, rather than the specific brand. For instance, if you need a band-aid, you probably don't care if someone gives you Band-Aid Brand Adhesive Strips or something else. When you find an error on your documents, you'll reach for whatever white out is handy, rather than worrying about finding BIC Wite-Out Correction Fluid. Then maybe you head over to Yahoo to google a site where you can buy rollerblades with velcro. You get the idea.<\/p>\n

Anyway, to help prevent \"Transformers\" from undergoing genericide (how cool is that<\/b> word?), Hasbro no longer refers to the process of converting them as \"transforming,\" because that could open the door to anyone else with transforming<\/s> morphing robot toys to label them<\/b> as \"transformers,\" as well. Of course, this rule just exists on printed material, like instructions or packaging text: that's why we don't hear Optimus Prime saying \"Autobots, 'convert' and roll out!\"<\/p>\n

<i>And now, some more OAFEry:<\/i><\/H5>