Let's just get this straight...

Dragonlord Esq. · Post by **Dragonlord Esq.** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 2:18 pm

I have always referred to "Lego building blocks" as Legos. Suddenly, I hear this is not the correct terminology. If I said, "Yes, I like Legos" would I be wrong? Obviously I can use whatever term I like for them, but to be official, would I have to use "Lego building blocks (or is it bricks?)" every time I mentioned them? To quote Jimmy from South Park, "Come on."

Umgarla · Post by **Umgarla** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 2:28 pm

Don't know why the term "legos" is wrong, but then again I'm danish, so what do I know?

In my country we refer to them as "lego klodser" which is similiar to the english "lego bricks".

Post by **architect** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 3:28 pm

The reason why the LEGO Company is opposed to the term "legos" is simple. They produce a wide variety of toys, some which are not made out of bricks. To call everything "legos" would be like calling barbie's "mattels" or gi-joes and starwars figures "hasbros" (I hope I have my company names correct here).

Basically I could call a wooden LEGO duck from the 1930's and a 2005 Viking set "legos" but it would be wrong. They are a LEGO Duck and a LEGO Viking brick set.

Ben E.

Blueandwhite · Post by **Blueandwhite** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 3:35 pm

Well, you can call your LEGO whatever you want

. Just remember, LEGO is a brand name, not a physical item. LEGO makes LEGO bricks, not Legos. Personally, I don't really think it matters how you refer to your bricks.

I'm not sure as to why LEGO doesn't refer to its own product in the plural, but I suspect it may have to do with trademark laws. If LEGO named the actual bricks Legos, there is the possibility that the brand name could fall into the public domain (this has happened to names such as Tupperware, and Quisinart). This could result in clone brands adopting the name legos as a description of their (inferior) products.

Accordingly, LEGO is not a thing, but a brand name. The actual product is Castle, Town, Space etc..., and should be referred to as LEGO bricks.

But again, I don't care what you call your bricks. So play well!

Later.

BuilderQ · Post by **BuilderQ** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 3:56 pm

It's been a long time since LEGO made wooden ducks. Hasn't the LEGO company itself said that brightly colored bricks are its core product? I'm already annoyed with having to write LEGO in all caps. Still, out of respect for clone brands, the bricks should not be called legos.

Post by **Bruce N H** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 5:07 pm

-minor heresy alert-
It doesn't matter what you call them. Build something and have fun.

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.

Bruce

ezehogan · Post by **ezehogan** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 5:49 pm

They'll always be Legos to me...

Its just to hard and not worth it to kick a 15 year old habit.

Loneranger · Post by **Loneranger** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 6:23 pm

ezehogan wrote:They'll always be Legos to me...

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!

LR

Post by **Formendacil** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:01 pm

Well, I've always thought of them as Lego (or LEGO), with a singular/plural definition similar to that of "sheep" or "deer".

But is this IMPORTANT? I think not. If we're going to be pedantic, hadn't we may as well harp on about whether or not we spell the singular base word as lego, Lego, or LEGO?

Ultimately, I don't think it matters too much to TLC as long as we keep buying their products, and it shouldn't matter to us that much as long as we keep enjoying them.

forester3291 · Post by **forester3291** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:05 pm

I personally sue whatever word comes to mind first.

LEGO or LEGOS.

I don't really care.

It really bothers me when some people get technical and say that you shouldn't say legos, you should say LEGO. Even though I have begun to say LEGO on this forum I still have the occasional legos slip in my sentences.

Blueandwhite · Post by **Blueandwhite** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:21 pm

forester3291 wrote:I personally sue whatever word comes to mind first. LEGO or LEGOS. I don't really care.

It really bothers me when some people get technical and say that you shouldn't say legos, you should say LEGO. Even though I have begun to say LEGO on this forum I still have the occasional legos slip in my sentences.

There is nothing wrong with saying LEGOs. It just isn't the proper term. When I was younger, I used to call plate bricks "flats", and tiles "smooth flats". These terms aren't used in the fandom, but that doesn't really diminish the meaning. Personally, I think the term legos sounds awkward and somewhat cumbersome, but that is just my opinion. Still, you can call them whatever you want.

Looking at Bruce's post, it is pretty evident that the only reason LEGO wants you to use the term LEGO bricks, is to protect their trademark. Simply put, LEGO doesn't want its company name confused with the product it makes.

Later.

Lord_Of_The_LEGO · Post by **Lord_Of_The_LEGO** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:25 pm

lone ranger wrote: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.

Post by **Robin Hood** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:26 pm

Well I have always called them Lego, both plural and single. I personally find it somewhat antagonizing when someone calls them Legos. But that is just my opinion. Call em what you want, call em Megablocks, so long as you enjoy what they are and forget about this trademark stuff.

Dan

Blueandwhite · Post by **Blueandwhite** » Tue Feb 01, 2005 7:31 pm

Robin Hood wrote:Well I have always called them Lego, both plural and single. I personally find it somewhat antagonizing when someone calls them Legos. But that is just my opinion. Call em what you want, call em Megablocks, so long as you enjoy what they are and forget about this trademark stuff.

Dan

Actually, DON'T call them Megabloks!!! Thats just profanity!!!

Later.