If anyone cares, Joe’s point is real. Styrofoam is the trade name for a brand of insulation. The polystyrene foam cups and food packaging are at least similar (and possibly identical) in composition, but are not Styrofoam (TM). The reason this is important is that when companies allow their trademarked brands to become genericized, they lose some of the value of of those names and may lose their exclusive right to use them.
If anyone cares, Joe’s point is real. Styrofoam is the trade name for a brand of insulation. The polystyrene foam cups and food packaging are at least similar (and possibly identical) in composition, but are not Styrofoam (TM). The reason this is important is that when companies allow their trademarked brands to become genericized, they lose some of the value of of those names and may lose their exclusive right to use them.