[Air-l] "listserve"

[Ellis Godard]

Thanks to Alex, Paul, Dominic, and Terry for the posts which were
interesting, but seemed to miss the point: I'm aware of ListServ and its
history, but am interested in when and how the brand name was appropriated
as a common noun. (Think Levi's, Band-Aid, Kleenex, Kodak, Coke, and Tivo.
There's a word for this I learned in 7th grade, but can't remember - and
neither can my 7th grade teacher, whom I re-ask every few years just in
case. Whatever it is, it's an important word. Maybe I should sniglet a new
one.)

Amelia's account is interesting - but I'm doubting that infolibs were the
first to use "listserv" in the generic; I see "listservs" and "list serves"
just as often as "listserves", so am not sure which appropriation came
first; and I'm still interested in pinpointing blame on a more particular
time and person.

-eg

> -----Original Message-----
> From: air-l-bounces at listserv.aoir.org [mailto:air-l-
> bounces at listserv.aoir.org] On Behalf Of Amelia Kassel
> Sent: Tuesday, May 29, 2007 8:59 AM
> To: air-l at listserv.aoir.org
> Subject: Re: [Air-l] "listserve"
> 
> I don't know the origin but I'll add my experience. At one time
> (perhaps
> still?) Listserv was a trademark.  To avoid using a trademark that
> referred
> to a specific product, information professionals and librarians began
> using
> the term listserve with an e to generically refer to electronic
> discussion
> groups of the "mailing" list (Listserv actual product name) variety.
> 
> Amelia, MarketingBase