ASB MAGAZINE: Senator Nick Xenophon is hiring a flock of sheep for an extraordinary international protest against Deckers Outdoor Corporation headquarters in Santa Barbara this week, over the global rights to the Ugg boot name. Senator Xenophon will join Australian Ugg boot manufacturer Eddie Oygur in the fight against Deckers. Mr Oygur’s Sydney business, Australian Leather, is being sued by Deckers for millions of dollars for alleged breach of trademark.
Senator Xenophon says this is a classic David versus Goliath battle where the little battler deserves to win. “Think of it like a version of the iconic movie The Castle,” he said.
“Over $1 billion worth of Ugg boots are sold by Deckers around the world, their brand is Ugg Australia, their boots are made in China or Vietnam,” Senator Xenophon.
He argues Australia should protect the word Ugg because potentially thousands of jobs could be created if it could have that export industry. Decker’s bought the rights to the name Ugg Australia during the 1990s, and now sells $1.5 billion of Ugg Australia boots a year.
Mr Oygur’s western Sydney factory is one of just a few remaining authentic Australian Ugg boot manufacturers, where once there were 40.
“He’s mortgaged everything he owns to fight this case in the US and we think Americans need to know what is happening to this little Aussie battler,” said Senator Xenophon.
Mr Oygur said Decker’s had demanded all his stock be sent to the US to be destroyed.
VIA AAP
