Let's just get this straight...

[Jojo]

Hello!

LEGO (the company) wants people to call them LEGO bricks. I'm sure they have all kinds of lawyer-y reasons for doing so. Of course, I note in their statement on this issue they also always want us to include the little registered trademark symbol. The use of "Lego", "lego", "legos" etc. gets some people up in arms (though no one seems to mind that we never use the registered trademark symbol in our regular discussion), so I've found it easiest to use LEGO on various boards, though in Real Life(tm) I (gasp) sometimes call them legos. I do think that the word usage varies depending on language and country--more Americans tend to say it this way while I've been told that in some languages this construction sounds very wrong.

They didn't always follow their guidelines themselves...



So why would WE be obliged to do so?


Bye
Jojo, who only on rare occasions calls his LEGO® bricks "Legos"

[bannear]

I agree with Bruce - build something and have some fun!

Sometimes when "Legal" issues rear their head people lose their heads.
Call them what you want, but if you want to write to the Lego company use the correct terms.

Otherwise Play Well!
SirBert

[forester3291]

Agreed. Ever since I was 6 I called them "Legos" and even though I say "Lego" online I call them "Legos" in real life. it's something thats a part of my childhood, and I'm pretty sure it's not going to change. So I'll be the old school purist!

I beg to differ. Before I found the online community, I called LEGO bricks 'legos'. I had called them this ever since I had them, but once I found TLC's legal agreement I forced myself to say LEGO or LEGO bricks. After a month, it came naturally.

People can change, and I get a little annoyed when people incorrectly say legos on forums or in real life, but all I do is grit my teeth and simply say or type LEGO.

I don't try to convert online friends, because it isn't my business, but I do try correct my other friends and family members. So far my mom and sister say LEGO, but my dad is being stubborn.

Really, I think it's simply a matter of Respecting The Brick. If you don't say LEGO, fine, that's alright with me. I simply prefer saying LEGO.

I agree with you. Though I may slip a few times and say "lego" I correct my Parents and Siblings on saying LEGO and not legos. I for the most part say LEGO unless I slip.

[BuilderQ]

I'm more annoyed by Mega Bloks being called "megablocks" than by the use of "legos."

[porschecm2]

Before I found the online community, I called LEGO bricks 'legos'. I had called them this ever since I had them, but once I found TLC's legal agreement I forced myself to say LEGO or LEGO bricks. After a month, it came naturally.

People can change, and I get a little annoyed when people incorrectly say legos on forums or in real life, but all I do is grit my teeth and simply say or type LEGO.

I don't try to convert online friends, because it isn't my business, but I do try correct my other friends and family members.

Exactly! I used to always call them "legos" but now it annoys me to no end when people call them that(especially offline.) I don't capitalize all the letters, but I do always call them "Lego" or "Lego bricks" or "Lego models" or whatnot.

Cm2

[LEGOFREAK]

I'm sorry if I offend here, but I think its one of those things that elitists use to differentiate between an expert and a novice.
of course I only say Lego

[tanzirian]

First, I agree entirely with Freak. Trying to be prim and proper about what is, after all, a toy seems a little silly.

Second, there are times when, due to the success of a product or brand, the name of that product comes to represent the entire category to which it belongs. "Polaroid" pictures and "Q-tips" are some random ones that come to mind. People talk about an "adrenaline" rush, which refers to a brand name, not an epinephrine rush. Etc. Whether we here, or TLG, like it or not, the word "lego(s)" is a part of modern language, and as such refers not only to official LEGO products, but to little building bricks in general, even (gasp) non-LEGO ones. That's just just the way language evolves. And I for one, am not losing any sleep over it.

[Blueandwhite]

I'm more annoyed by Mega Bloks being called "megablocks" than by the use of "legos."

Hmmm

That's sort of like calling garbage trash !

Later.

[rogue27]

I've never really called them legos. I always read in their catalogs that you shouldn't do that. I had so much respect for the company back then that I figured it was worth the effort. I even understood the reason.

It's like how kleenex and band-aid can be used by any manufacturers of facial tissues and adhesive bandages because the brand names have entered the public domain due to common usage. I don't know about you guys, but I will be utterly disgusted if I ever see "Megabloks legos" on a store shelf. As such, I make an effort to use the term correctly with the hopes that it will rub off on others.

I don't care so much about the all caps thing. I generally will use all caps when referring to LEGO the company, but I think capitalizing the L is enough when saying Lego bricks or Lego sets.


And now, from the back page of the 1986 LEGO catalog:

Dear Parents and Children
LEGO® is a brand name that is very special to all of us in the LEGO Group Companies. We would sincerely appreciate your help in keeping it special by referring to our bricks as "LEGO Bricks or Toys" and not just "LEGOS". By doing so, you will be helping to protect and preserve a brand name that stands for quality the world over.

If at any time we can be of service to you regarding our products, please feel free to write us.
Susan Williams
LEGO Systems, Inc.
P.O. Box 938
Enfield, CT 06082

[The Tennis Ball Kid]

Dear Parents and Children
LEGO® is a brand name that is very special to all of us in the LEGO Group Companies. We would sincerely appreciate your help in keeping it special by referring to our bricks as "LEGO Bricks or Toys" and not just "LEGOS". By doing so, you will be helping to protect and preserve a brand name that stands for quality the world over.

If that had been in the catalogs during my formative years I probably wouldn't say legos, but it wasn't, so I do.

Now that I know better I don't (usually), but it still sometime comes out as "legos".

I understand the reasons for it, but I don't think it's worth getting bent out of shape over, especially with people in real life(unless you want to come across as a pedantic smart-alecky geek).


My two studs worth...
TTBK

[Bruce N H]

Dear Parents and Children

-snip-

Susan Williams
LEGO Systems, Inc.

Of course, wasn't Susan Williams a name made up by their consumer affairs department? Once we start following the orders of fictional constructs, haven't we joined the ranks of the legally insane?

Bruce

[Blueandwhite]

Dear Parents and Children

-snip-

Susan Williams
LEGO Systems, Inc.

Of course, wasn't Susan Williams a name made up by their consumer affairs department? Once we start following the orders of fictional constructs, haven't we joined the ranks of the legally insane?

Bruce

Fictional construct or not, the lady has some good advice!

You must appreciate, that if the term 'lego' falls into the public domain as a general description, other brands (ack.. ahem... Megabloks) will be able to identify their products as legos, or lego bricks (small letters). This could seriously harm LEGO's (the company) reputation as the premier maker of building bricks.

Just remember, where most AFOLs can appreciate the difference between LEGO and other clone brands, the average consumer is far less likely to draw such a distinction. For him or her, all bricks are likely described only as 'legos' or bricks. If the LEGO brand is continuously misused, LEGO could end up being another Asprine or Kleenex! Brand names are important for a company to distinguish itself from its competitors. We need to respect that!

So, while you can call LEGO bricks whatever you like, people need to remember, there are consequences.

Later.

[LEGOFREAK]

So, while you can call LEGO bricks whatever you like, people need to remember, there are consequences.

Later.

yes - we will be forced to suffer through shoddy clone brands, and possibly even have weird story lines, and juniorized pieces!

uh.. wait a minute....

[rogue27]

Dear Parents and Children

-snip-

Susan Williams
LEGO Systems, Inc.

Of course, wasn't Susan Williams a name made up by their consumer affairs department? Once we start following the orders of fictional constructs, haven't we joined the ranks of the legally insane?

Bruce

I had not heard that before. Is it true?