330 "jeep" - was this a licensed set?

Whateverist

The 1968 330 "jeep" set is called "jeep" in its description and on its box. I was wondering if this was actually a licensed product - since Jeep has been copyrighted since 1946 - or if at the time the term was still generic enough to be used for an open off-roader without Legal throwing a fit.

madforLEGO

Paging @Istokg @LusiferSam  for assistance

LusiferSam

This was not likely licensed. Today's idea of licensed products didn't exist at that time.  Car companies didn't start forcing the licensing issue until the late 70s or 80s.  As long as you weren't using logos it wasn't a problem.  And Jeep was model of vehicle at the time, not a brand or marque of vehicle. 

Blockwork_Orange

I think jeep was (and still is) a generally used and accepted generic term for a small 4-wheel drive off road passenger vehicle. 

There is a similar generic term I recall seeing in a European catalogue from the mid-late 80's where a backhoe excavator from the town theme is referred to as a JCB. 

 I wonder how many other instances of brand names being used as generalized terms there are in LEGO sets over the years?

TheOtherMike

Somewhat off-topic, but that is a BIG steering wheel.