Uggs-N-Rugs
Encyclopedia
Uggs-N-Rugs is a small business in Perth, Western Australia
, manufacturing and retailing ugg boots
. In 2006 Uggs-N-Rugs successfully challenged the registration of ugg/ug/ugh as a trade mark in Australia and continues to challenge the trademark registration through the Australian Sheepskin Association.
and their registered trademarks. In early 2006 Uggs-N-Rugs was successful in having the Australian trademarks for ug, ugh and ugg removed from the register for non-use. IP Australia
(the Australian trade marks office) declared that the words are interchangeable and used generically to describe sheepskin boots. As part of their action the McDougalls provided volumes of evidence showing the term (and its derivatives) being used in a generic sense. In addition, they showed that Deckers Outdoor Corporation failed to use their trademark properly and consistently. This battle was portrayed in the documentary, The Good, The Bad and The Ugg Boot which showed the action set an important precedent in trademark law. After the action was finalised, IP Australia published a clarification on their rulings highlighting the need for more due diligence to be performed by both the registering party and International Intellectual Property registrars before registering a trademark.
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
, manufacturing and retailing ugg boots
Ugg boots
Ugg boots are a unisex style of sheepskin boots, made of twin-faced sheepskin with fleece on the inside and with a tanned outer surface, often with a synthetic sole....
. In 2006 Uggs-N-Rugs successfully challenged the registration of ugg/ug/ugh as a trade mark in Australia and continues to challenge the trademark registration through the Australian Sheepskin Association.
History
Uggs-N-Rugs was formed in the late 1970s by Bruce and Bronwyn McDougall who had recently finished farming in Quindanning. Initially the company purchased premade ugg boots for retail. The McDougalls deemed the quality to be erratic so they began to manufacture the boots themselves.Ugg boot trademarks
The McDougalls and Uggs-N-Ruggs have been featured in Australian media reports from 2005-2006 due to their tussle with Deckers Outdoor CorporationDeckers Outdoor Corporation
Deckers Outdoor Corporation is a footwear manufacturer based in Goleta, California, United States. It began in 1973 as a sandal producer, run by Doug Otto. Deckers currently manufactures six brands, Teva, UGG Australia, Simple Shoes, Sanuk, Tsubo, Ahnu and Mozo.- Teva :Mark Thatcher was the...
and their registered trademarks. In early 2006 Uggs-N-Rugs was successful in having the Australian trademarks for ug, ugh and ugg removed from the register for non-use. IP Australia
IP Australia
The Australian Patent Office is a division of IP Australia which is an agency of the Australian Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research. APO issues patents for inventions. APO was established in 1904 by the Commonwealth of Australia and since 1998 has been located in one building,...
(the Australian trade marks office) declared that the words are interchangeable and used generically to describe sheepskin boots. As part of their action the McDougalls provided volumes of evidence showing the term (and its derivatives) being used in a generic sense. In addition, they showed that Deckers Outdoor Corporation failed to use their trademark properly and consistently. This battle was portrayed in the documentary, The Good, The Bad and The Ugg Boot which showed the action set an important precedent in trademark law. After the action was finalised, IP Australia published a clarification on their rulings highlighting the need for more due diligence to be performed by both the registering party and International Intellectual Property registrars before registering a trademark.
External links
- Uggs-N-Rugs official website
- The Good, The Bad and the Ugg Boot Study of the documentary