Aspirin (generic in the US, still Bayer's in many countries): public domain status

US 1921

A US court ruled "aspirin" generic in 1921. In dozens of other countries, Canada and Germany included, Aspirin is still a Bayer trademark.

Where	Status
United States	Free since 1921

Limits

Free word in the US, protected brand elsewhere: check each market.

Ideas

Explainers on genericide, product naming.

Sources

US Copyright Office, Works not protected (Circular 33)

Checked 31 October 2026. Report a correction.

More trademarks

Earlier

Thermos, yo-yo, trampoline, cellophaneVarious · various · Trademarks
Former brand names that US courts or the market turned generic (thermos in 1963, yo-yo in 1965).

US 1963
Earlier

EscalatorOtis Elevator Company · various · Trademarks
Otis lost the trademark in 1950 after using "escalator" as a generic word in its own ads.

US 1950

General information, not legal advice. Copyright, patent and trademark status differs by country, edition and translation: check before you publish or sell. Full disclaimer