[metaphorm]

sorry, but that's not how trademark and branding works.

Perhaps you should try bringing to market a product called "Coca-Cola by Ynniv" and you can find out for yourself how this really works.

[rplnt]

Coca-Cola is not an English word describing generic real-world item. Paper is. I see your point (and to a degree agree), but your example is heavily flawed.

[xxchan]

You might be surprised to learn that in the trademark law, common words like "paper" or "candy" can be used by multiple companies without them infringing on each other while "Coca-Cola" is way too specific for that.

[metaphorm]

why isn't Coca-Cola also a descriptive word? It describes the product (two important ingredients).

[ynniv]

Because "Coca-Cola" is a "fanciful name", employing strange capitalization and hyphenation. It's also a household name world-wide, which allows protection of somewhat generic names.

[Xdes]

It's a matter of common usage. Coca-Cola isn't a universal descriptor of that particular kind of carbonated soft drink. The term for that (in the US) is a cola (which is why there exists a lot of *-Cola beverages).

The Coca leaf isn't used anymore due to the prohibition of cocaine.

[ynniv]

Not true! They don't use cocaine, but they do extract flavor from imported coca leaves, and are the only US company allowed to do so.

Randomish link from a quick search: http://dish.andrewsullivan.com/2012/02/25/coca-cola-is-still...