Weak politicians silent as Aussie icon bullied by Yanks.

[Old Koreelah]

Why is there no outrage about this? Where are our well-paid public servants when an Australian industry gets bullied out of the American market? Why do our politicians bend over to let the yanks shaft us?

 

'This verdict will wipe me': Boot maker loses case over use of the term 'ugg'

 

 

[spacesailor]

And I thought you meant, Julian Assange.

 

Simple fix for the boots, Put two HH, & call them HHugg.

 

(should I get it legalised)

 

spacesailor

 

 

[old man emu]

I always thought that they were properly called "Ugh" boots.

 

Ugg boots are a unisex style of sheepskin boot originating in Australia and New Zealand. The boots are typically made of twin-faced sheepskin with fleece on the inside, a tanned outer surface and a synthetic sole. The term, ugg boots, originated from Australia, initially for utilitarian footwear worn for warmth, and which were often worn by surfers during the 1960s. In the 1970s, the boots were introduced to the surf culture of the United Kingdom and the United States. Sheepskin boots became a fashion trend in the U.S. in the late 1990s and as a worldwide trend in the mid-2000s.

 

There are more than 70 registered trademarks that include the term "ugg" in various logos and designs in Australia and New Zealand, as the term is considered a generic reference to a type of shoe.Outside Australia and New Zealand, UGG is a brand manufactured by the California-based Deckers Outdoor Corporation, with most of its manufacturing based in China. By 2010, worldwide sales by Australian manufacturers combined equaled 5.9% of Deckers UGG boots sales, with UGG dominating the world market.

 

Here is a picture in which one of the surfies is wearing ugg boots.

 

[ATTACH]50070._xfImport[/ATTACH]

 

and another from 1969

 

[ATTACH]50071._xfImport[/ATTACH]

 

[Old Koreelah]

What angers me is that this battle has been going on so long. When the predatory American firm registered the name in the U.S. they obviously lied, because they claimed the name was NOT currently in use by any advertised product.

 

Wrong. As has previously been shown, Australian exporters had been advertising and selling Ugg boots in American publications for decades.

 

 

[facthunter]

Just another example of "Might is Right". This guy will be bankrupted and has done nothing wrong. 650,000 dollars fine OTA. Nev

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

The US plays dirty even with its closest allies. Ask the Canadians about their trade history.

 

I suspect Australia has been told to shut up, lest we lose the few deals we've managed to negotiate in the past.

 

 

[facthunter]

. I would just say two words to the US. Pine Gap. Nev

 

 

[Bruce]

Alice Springs just loves Pine Gap for the money it brings in. Some years ago, the town was in a funk because a new building in Washington was going to replace Pine Gap, using satellite to satellite relaying.

 

Luckily for Alice Springs, the idea that satellite-killing missiles might render this a bad idea won the day and so Pine Gap is still there.

 

 

[old man emu]

All the more reason to remind the Yanks that it's more than just their Ugg boot sales that depend on Australia.

 

What if we trade mark "Pine Gap" and then sue them for illegal use of a copyrighted term?

 

 

[spacesailor]

That's a dammm good idea !

 

spacesailor

 

 

[facthunter]

I can't see it as lucky for Alice Springs. Makes it a prime early target and makes it look like we are r slicking the Yanks.. Nev

 

 

[Yenn]

The Ugg Boot has been registered as a trade name in the USA. We an us the name here and sell Ugg Boots, but not in USA. The manufacturer who is going broke must have known he was breaking US law. It was widely publicised, with a lot of outrage many years ago. Just too bad that he used what belonged to someone else and was caught.

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

The Ugg Boot has been registered as a trade name in the USA. We an us the name here and sell Ugg Boots, but not in USA. The manufacturer who is going broke must have known he was breaking US law. It was widely publicised, with a lot of outrage many years ago. Just too bad that he used what belonged to someone else and was caught.

It's my understanding that the registration of the tradename in the US was fraudulent. Evidence of this was presented in previous cases, but the US justice system isn't known for being fair to the little bloke.

 

 

[old man emu]

Let the Yanks have Ugg. We go and register Ugh! and then see how they react.

 

 

[spacesailor]

OR

 

We just go and register HHUG.

 

Nothing wrong with that name YET!

 

spacesailor

 

 

[Old Koreelah]

I suspect there is a huge market for our sheepskin boots. I travelled light to Yukon last year, expecting to buy appropriate gear locally. After much searching, the only thing like an Ugg boot was available only in womens' sizes. The only warm footwear available for men were big, robust snow boots.

 

 

[Jerry_Atrick]

Compare Aus's attitude to national icon businesses to Brazils: Paywall - but the heading should give an idea. Boeing wanted to buy all of Embraer. El Presidento says over myy dead body... They are coming to an agreement that is only the commercial aviation business.. Compare the approach to out pollies - national icon businesses and the ACCC and FIRC rolls over and has their tummy tickled...

 

But let's not just lay the blame at the pollies/public servant's feet. Remember Gippy Aviation and many other innovative Aus companies such as Mincom? As soon as a foreign suitor comes along, it's "thank you for the chocolates"... Yes, this is part of entrepreneurship, but unlike many in the US and Europe that prefer part buyouts, we seem to be happy to sell the family silver entirely..