The 'G' in the middle is capitalized: UGG is an American brand
Deckers Outdoor of the USA registered the UGG trademark in 1995
With the arrival of winter, UGG boots are gaining popularity. The term "ugg" was originally a slang word in Australia meaning "ugly," but it has now become a winter essential item thanks to its comfortable fit, excellent warmth, and timeless design.
Many domestic and international shoe brands offer UGG boots, but the most popular ones are those bearing the trademark "UGG." However, even among shoes with the "UGG" inscription, there are two types of logos: one with the middle letter "G" enlarged and another with all the letters "UGG" of the same size.
The brands with the "UGG" letters all the same size mostly have roots in Australia. "UGG Since 1974™," "Ozzie Ugg Wear," and "UGG Australia®" are all Australian companies and have no relation to the American UGG.
In fact, the original home of UGG is Australia. Since the 1930s, in Australia, "ugg" has been a term used to refer to sheepskin boots lined with wool. It gained popularity especially among surfers in the 1950s and 1960s, as UGG boots were used to keep feet warm on the way to morning surfing sessions. From the 1970s, Australian manufacturers collaborated with distributors to export UGG boots overseas, leading to worldwide popularity.
The UGG boots with the logo where the middle "G" is larger belong to an American brand. The exact company name is UGG®, which is imported and sold in Korea by Shinsegae International. In 1978, Brian Smith, a surfer from Australia, founded the original UGG company in Southern California, USA, and registered the trademark in the US in 1985. Later, the American footwear company Deckers Outdoor Corporation acquired Smith's company and registered "UGG" as a trademark in 1999, using it as the brand name. Deckers Outdoor also acquired the trademark rights for the similarly pronounced Australian brand "UGH."
'UGG' Used as a Generic Term in Australia, Trademark Owned by Deckers Outdoor in the US
Asia Economy DB.
Currently, "UGG Since 1974™" cannot use the UGG brand name outside Australia because Deckers Outdoor holds the UGG trademark rights in over 130 countries. UGG boots exported from "UGG Since 1974™" must bear the "Since 74" mark.
There has been a trademark dispute between the American UGG and an Australian UGG company over the UGG trademark. In 2016, the Australian company "Australian Leather," which makes UGG boots, sold 13 pairs of UGG boots to American customers through its website, prompting Deckers Outdoor to file a trademark infringement lawsuit against Australian Leather.
The dispute centered on whether UGG is a generic term for wool-lined boots or a brand name recognized by American customers (Deckers Outdoor's brand). Australian Leather argued that before UGG was registered as a trademark, it was used as a generic term in the US and that the word "ugg" should not be subject to trademark registration. However, the US courts ruled in both the first and second trials that Australian Leather must pay $450,000 (approximately 500 million KRW) in damages.
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