THE VIDEO SHELF · trademark genericization
Don't Say Velcro
Velcro Brand's legal team makes a short, humorous ad asking people not to use "velcro" as a noun or verb and to say hook and loop instead. It is a tongue-in-cheek lesson in defending a trademark against genericization.
Why HN readers recommended it
HN cites it as the go-to example of a company defending its trademark, and many also find it funny.
This is a summary from the source dataset, not an endorsement by Hacker News or the video creator.
Video & recommendation details
- Creator / channel
- VELCRO® Brand
- Topic
- trademark genericization
- Format
- comedy
- Level
- general
- HN recommenders in dataset
- 3
- HN mentions in dataset
- 11
- Recommendation years in dataset
- 2019–2025
These counts and years describe the included Hacker News records; they are not YouTube views or the video’s publication date.
From the original HN conversations
Excerpts from the recorded comments. Follow each source for the full comment and surrounding discussion.
That is a very cute page. I like their attitude. And the video at the top of the page is absolutely wonderful. It's the funniest thing I've seen in a long time. Watch it with good headphones or speakers and the sound up. Direct link: …
Stratoscope on Hacker News · 2022-09
In YKK zippers: Why so many designers use them (2012)If you've never seen the video ad that went along with this campaign, it's hilarious and worth watching, as is the follow up. I love the good humor about the whole thing. And it has made their campaign stick in ways that other similar campaigns …
compiler-guy on Hacker News · 2023-12
In Don't Say Velcro (2017)Here is Velcro's lawyers telling you to call those other brands 'hook and loop' in a surprisingly straightforward, honest and amusing way. [VIDEO]
_jal on Hacker News · 2020-04
In 'Call of Duty' wins First Amendment victory over use of Humvees
Summaries, classifications and recommendation records are from the HackerTube source dataset. Read about this library and its limitations.