Generic Name

In the medical arena, a generic name is the chemical name of a medication or a substance, that is then marketed under various trade names. Examples of brand names and their generic names are Prozac (generic name Fluoxetine), Tylenol (generic name Acetominophen), and Motrin (generic name Ibuprophen). Brand names are copyrighted for a period of time. When the copyright expires, a medication can then be sold under its generic name.