Spring Break
The Daily OrangeUgg name underwent Australian copyright battle
By Larissa Padden
Posted: 1/16/08, 10:42 PM EST Section: Feature
Ugg's succinct and descriptive name almost didn't make it to the States.
The term "Ugg" was used traditionally to refer to any boot lined with sheepskin. This followed a technique that began when shearers in Australia would wrap sheepskin around their feet to keep warm
.It wasn't until the 1970s, that Australian surfer Brian Smith coined the term and sold it to U.S. manufacturers, Decker Outdoor Corporation.
In 2004, the Ugg boot trend was at its height, and the boots were becoming more popular than ever. To corner the market, Decker sent a letter to all Australian manufacturers warning against using the term Ugg or any forms of the word.
The letter shocked many local family companies in Australia that had been selling Ugg boots for generations. Decker offered no monetary compensation and threatened manufacturers with litigation, citing trademark as its basis of defense.
Many companies then banded together to fight Decker, claiming the term Ugg was a "generic term" and therefore could not be trademarked.
In order to be established as a generic, Australians had to show that the term had been so frequently used, it had become associated with an entire category of boots.
In January of 2006 the organization that regulates trademarks in Australia, IP Australia, agreed to the generic use of the name "Ugg," and ordered it to be removed from the register.
This allows manufacturers throughout Australia to continue to use the term "Uggs" to sell their boots. However, it has in no way slowed the sale of Decker's Uggs in the United States.
The term "Ugg" was used traditionally to refer to any boot lined with sheepskin. This followed a technique that began when shearers in Australia would wrap sheepskin around their feet to keep warm
.It wasn't until the 1970s, that Australian surfer Brian Smith coined the term and sold it to U.S. manufacturers, Decker Outdoor Corporation.
In 2004, the Ugg boot trend was at its height, and the boots were becoming more popular than ever. To corner the market, Decker sent a letter to all Australian manufacturers warning against using the term Ugg or any forms of the word.
The letter shocked many local family companies in Australia that had been selling Ugg boots for generations. Decker offered no monetary compensation and threatened manufacturers with litigation, citing trademark as its basis of defense.
Many companies then banded together to fight Decker, claiming the term Ugg was a "generic term" and therefore could not be trademarked.
In order to be established as a generic, Australians had to show that the term had been so frequently used, it had become associated with an entire category of boots.
In January of 2006 the organization that regulates trademarks in Australia, IP Australia, agreed to the generic use of the name "Ugg," and ordered it to be removed from the register.
This allows manufacturers throughout Australia to continue to use the term "Uggs" to sell their boots. However, it has in no way slowed the sale of Decker's Uggs in the United States.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 18
Ibrahim
posted 1/17/08 @ 11:07 PM EST
Thanks for the history lesson! I'm going to summarize it, and link to it on www.IGotUGGs.com
bigbigwatch
posted 1/18/09 @ 3:24 AM EST
Are you struggling in [url=http://www.rs-game.com/]runescape[/url] for [url=http://www.runescape-mall.com/]runescape gold[/url]? Can you bear with yourself being called noobie in [url=http://www. (Continued…)
sarah
posted 7/24/09 @ 3:02 AM EST
handbags UGG shoes electronic
links:http//www.b2bec21.com
links:http//www.b2bec21.com
links:http//www.b2bec21.com
links:http//www.b2bec21.com
links:http//www. (Continued…)
sarah001
sarah
posted 7/24/09 @ 3:08 AM EST
handbags UGG shoes electronic
links:http//www.fibb2b.com
links:http//www.fibb2b.com
links:http//www.fibb2b.com
links:http//www.fibb2b.com
links:http//www. (Continued…)
sarah001
allofbags
posted 7/24/09 @ 3:12 AM EST
Handbag Handbags Handbags
links:http//www.allofbags.co.uk
links:http//www.allofbags.co.uk
links:http//www.allofbags.co.uk
links:http//www.allofbags. (Continued…)
sarah001
sarah
posted 7/24/09 @ 3:31 AM EST
links:http://www.buy-uggboots.com
links:http://www.buy-uggboots.com
links:http://www.buy-uggboots.com
links:http://www.buy-uggboots.com
links:http://www. (Continued…)
milooe
posted 8/04/09 @ 5:30 AM EST
UGG This is a Australia brand, has a good reputation and the quality of the highest quality, each used in the production of pairs of Boots are the 100% genuine sheepskin, and bring you comfort every step, hold it is not afraid of the cold winter . (Continued…)
linda
posted 8/05/09 @ 9:42 AM EST
www.cuteoutlet.com , here we are on sale ugg classic crady, classic tall, classic short and so on, which are authentic and competitive price
chilly
posted 8/05/09 @ 12:02 PM EST
Women's Elsey
Women's Suburb Crochet
Women's Mayfaire
women ugg boots
miloe
posted 8/05/09 @ 9:58 PM EST
UGG This is a Australia brand, has a good reputation and the quality of the highest quality, each used in the production of pairs of Boots are the 100% genuine sheepskin, and bring you comfort every step, hold it is not afraid of the cold winter . (Continued…)
Post a Comment