tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post4094183650972392138..comments2023-09-06T05:48:05.398-06:00Comments on Terry's Place: Generic or Name Brands?Terry Odellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-18901926762288889782012-01-04T17:24:38.326-07:002012-01-04T17:24:38.326-07:00Maryann -- it's nice when an editor agrees (al...Maryann -- it's nice when an editor agrees (although I think the legal department has the final word if there's any controversy)<br /><br />Sarah - yes, that's what bothered me about the two books with specific names for cell phones. Then again, maybe those two brands ARE thought of by name by their owners. Nobody responded to that part of my blog.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-5102629303263361312012-01-04T17:18:17.584-07:002012-01-04T17:18:17.584-07:00I agree with most of the above comments in that I ...I agree with most of the above comments in that I want the specifics of what a character is drinking, eating, where he's going so I can relate.<br /><br />As long as the same product isn't used throughout the entire story I simply read over it briefly. It's typically such a minor element of the tale but if it's description instead of a name I do get caught up and enjoy the book less.Sarah Butlandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04273012287632649177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-84367720411703517262012-01-03T08:46:31.658-07:002012-01-03T08:46:31.658-07:00Happy New Year, Terry. Catching up on some blogs a...Happy New Year, Terry. Catching up on some blogs a little late, but liked this one a lot. I agree about the specific brand names of cars and places and even drinks can add a lot to a story and to a character. I had to fight to keep some of them in my books with the same publisher, but when I pointed out that nothing bad was associated with the branded items, the editor gave the okay.Maryannwriteshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09479027709233807149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-91598219894556533992012-01-02T22:09:19.790-07:002012-01-02T22:09:19.790-07:00Interesting post. I guess I haven't thought t...Interesting post. I guess I haven't thought too much about brand names and can't think of a situation where I was bugged by one.Karen Chttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01879661976460705463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-29901080248890031412012-01-02T16:00:32.412-07:002012-01-02T16:00:32.412-07:00Eliazabeth, that's probably smart in case a ma...Eliazabeth, that's probably smart in case a manufacturer takes exception with usage. Let the publisher deal with it.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-78979876458608702662012-01-02T15:48:47.058-07:002012-01-02T15:48:47.058-07:00I use name brands when I write traditionally publi...I use name brands when I write traditionally published books and generic for my self-pub! :)Elizabeth Spann Craighttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15625595247828274405noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-4897002454236939482012-01-02T13:55:20.552-07:002012-01-02T13:55:20.552-07:00Marilyn - yes, and it's the publisher who'...Marilyn - yes, and it's the publisher who's likely to be on the receiving end of the lawsuit (unless you're indie publishing)Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-65317473187817161502012-01-02T13:52:52.593-07:002012-01-02T13:52:52.593-07:00Good points, Steve. I'm assuming the publisher...Good points, Steve. I'm assuming the publishers have had to deal with potential lawsuits or they wouldn't be sending our information to their legal departments (rather than editors) when they have 'brand name' policy.<br /><br />And I totally agree that where you live can impact how you interpret what the author says. I'm still trying to find out what "fairy cakes" are. <br /><br />Here in the US, there are a lot of regional differences as well. Soda, Pop, Cola--and in some places any carbonated soft drink is called "Coke" no matter what it is.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-62861458242546956522012-01-02T13:41:21.690-07:002012-01-02T13:41:21.690-07:00Has a novelist or their publisher ever been sued f...Has a novelist or their publisher ever been sued for trademark infringement? I suppose publishers know what they can get away with...<br /><br />I don't mind brand names in fiction, as long as they don't occur so often that it sounds as though the author is getting paid for them. They can be a useful shorthand for establishing a character or setting, but they only work if the reader knows them. I live in the UK, where we don't have Denny's, so I have no idea what sort of mental picture I'm meant to get from that.Steven J Pembertonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00028641546639585017noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-49811052175037221562012-01-02T09:53:48.805-07:002012-01-02T09:53:48.805-07:00The way a brand name product is portrayed also mak...The way a brand name product is portrayed also makes a difference. If the main character says, "I drink Diet Coke because Diet Pepsi tastes like crap, or it has illegal drugs in it, or it will make me sterile..." Well, you get the idea. Don’t use a product in a negative way, or you just might be sued.Marilyn Yarbroughhttp://mkyarbrough.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-57409386530798967632012-01-02T08:34:05.953-07:002012-01-02T08:34:05.953-07:00Kathy - I have no problems with brand names -- as ...Kathy - I have no problems with brand names -- as long as it doesn't look like the author is getting a kickback for every time they're used!Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-70657563254360456422012-01-02T08:25:40.761-07:002012-01-02T08:25:40.761-07:00I used Diet Coke in my story because I drink it an...I used Diet Coke in my story because I drink it and my heroine drinks it. But brand names shoul dbe okay unless you are doing something or saying something negative. I guess everyone could drink a bottle of water and coffee or tea but I don't drink coffee or tea and water is something I have to make myself drink-lol. I love the taste of the carbonation of my Diet Coke first thing in the morning. Just me and my silliness though. :-)Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05983209367295987926noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-34643216184460404202012-01-02T08:15:07.803-07:002012-01-02T08:15:07.803-07:00Ray, you do bring up a valid point. Everyone has h...Ray, you do bring up a valid point. Everyone has hot buttons, and you never know what's going to push one. <br /><br />Jacqueline - I'd say I have a mix in my books. I like to root readers in reality, yet we can't get too "real" -- in my WIP I've created a building in a real town, because I don't want anything bad to happen in a real building. I'm sure some readers will say, "Oh, but there is no such building." But we write fiction; we get to make stuff up.Terry Odellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11610682530545306687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-33748052177858830372012-01-02T07:59:10.717-07:002012-01-02T07:59:10.717-07:00Hi, Terry,
I've changed some brand names to g...Hi, Terry,<br /><br />I've changed some brand names to generics for the same reason you have, because the publisher is nervous about them. If you check and make certain the trademark is there, I don't see that there should be a problem. Really, it's good product advertising for the brand name.<br /><br />Jacqueline Seewald<br />THE TRUTH SLEUTH<br />THE INFERNO COLLECTION, THE DROWNING POOL, now in e-book formatsJacqueline Seewaldhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09177500620940251009noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30931389.post-7835804086334644722012-01-02T07:37:45.329-07:002012-01-02T07:37:45.329-07:00My opinion on brand names changes with the book. T...My opinion on brand names changes with the book. The way you use it is perfectly OK. It is when they are used to show that the character is cool that the OVER use of brand names gets to me. When every other page contains a brand name it gets a little old. The use of Walmart always brings out negative thoughts in my mind. I have such a dislike for a company that started out as selling all American products to one that sells mostly Chinese products. I get a newsletter about government recalls. Nearly every recalled product is from China. The only electronic products I have had to return because they don't work as advertised are from Walmart. Still the movie about a woman who got married at Walmart was one I have seen several times because I am a big fan of Ashley Judd.<br /><br />RayRayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01308737766288257680noreply@blogger.com