Save Our Aussie Icon - The Great Australian Ugg Boot

Issue 4 - The Australian Sheepskin Association Supporters Newsletter

Monday 8 March 2004

Dear supporter,

This is just a brief update.  Firstly - a HUGE thank you to all those who have donated to our "Fighting Fund" and for those of you still to get your donation in, please send it to:

Save the Aussie Ugg Fighting Fund
Australian Sheepskin Association Incorporated
c/- Westhaven
PO Box 4695
DUBBO EAST 2830
Australia

Or

Deposit at any Westpac Branch or through Internet banking
Save the Aussie Ugg Fighting Fund, Australian Sheepskin Association Incorporated
Westpac Greenhills NSW 2323 Australia
BSB: 032639
A/C: 137039

We are pleased to announce that we have had various International media cover our story with BBC TV doing an interview last week.  Other articles have appeared in mainstream newspapers across the globe with the reporters showing disbelief at how anyone could trademark the generic terms ug, ugh and ugg boots.

Non-use applications have been filed in Australia against "ugh" and "ugh-boots" and we are extremely confidant that these marks will be cancelled as a result.  Deckers recently filed an S-3 report which contained the following paragraph:

"We face particularly strong challenges to our UGG trademark in Australia.  There can be no assurance that we will prevail in such challenges.  Many Australian manufacturers sell competitive footwear on the Internet.  The loss of the UGG trademark in Australia could cause us to lose significant sales and could harm the integrity of our brand by association with inferior products."

I can assure you all that the Australian industry does not like the inference that their products are inferior.  However, it is pleasing to see that Deckers acknowledge their UGG trademarks are on rocky ground. 

We continue to receive information from eBay� sellers about ugg boot listings being "pulled" for alleged "trademark infringement".  If you are one of these sellers (no matter where you are located) or know of such sellers, please use our contact us form and provide details of such activity.  We are getting together evidence in this matter.

We thank you for your support and will keep you advised of developments.  Please help us grow our supporters list by forwarding this email to your friends, family and colleagues and encouraging them to visit our website at https://www.SaveOurAussieIcon.com and adding their details to our mailing list.

Thanking you

Australian Sheepskin Association Incorporated