February 10th 2005
Save the Ozzie Ugg
Readers may be aware that the Yanks are now trying to snatch another Ozzie icon. But this time it could get really Uggly! A committed defender of Ozzie culture and taste - uggly as it may be - makes a desperate call to action in the following letter. And, with a surname like his, it is clear the man knows a thing or two about having one's name borrowed for American apparel.Dear Editor,
I am involved in gathering pre-1971 evidence (advertisements, invoices, brochures, newspaper and magazine articles/pictures, published stories/novels, and so on) that mention ug/ugg/ugh boots.
I'm trying to help the save-the-aussie-icon movement that is mounting a legal challenge against the Decker Corporation, the American firm that is trying to trademark the original Oz term "ugg boot" (variously spelled), despite the fact that Australian trademark law protects generic terms such as "ugg".
If the Decker Corp. is successful, Australian manufacturers of sheepskin footwear will not be allowed to use ug/ugg/ugh in any of their advertising, despite the fact that these terms have been in the public domain since before WW2.
If you can help, please contact:
Peter Jeans
PO Box 117, Bindoon WA 6502
Tel. 9576-1468, Fax 9576-0468, mob. 0427-428-613,
email: jupejeans42@westnet.com.au
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