UGH !!!

[ozzy72]

I was going to post this after I saw a news report last week but it didn't come to mind.

Apparently, there is a company in the US that has stolen an idea and name from Australian History and Culture and are actually trying to stop any other company in the world from using it.

I'm talking about Ugh Boots. We've had them here for nearly 100 years. I wore them as a teenager and actually had a pair up till a few years ago which I used to wear on cold days and nights.

They are a sheepskin boot which originally went 3/4 up the leg but there were shorter versions made and sold because the full length ones were a bit expensive. I could have walked into any shopping mall in Sydney over the last 20 years and bought a pair, they're that common and that much of an institution here.

They originated with Royal Australian Flying Corp blokes flying in Europe in WWI, having them shipped over and using them to ward off cold feet both during flight and on the ground.

We have historical record dating back at least that far. So seeing as copyright (at least on text and music) only lasts for 50 years, where do they get off using one of our traditions and calling it their own, let alone trying to stop us from using the name!  >:(

[Hagar]

This sort of thing seems common today. Legally obtaining the rights to a well-known trade name gives a company the reputation without all the hard work that goes with it. Easy ain't it.

If the original Ugh Boots company is still trading it seems strange that this situation was allowed to happen. I would think that protecting their established trade name would be of the utmost importance for any business.

PS. This reminds me of a similar situation when a long-established company goes out of business. The trade name is then up for grabs for anyone with the forethought to purchase it. Even a legendary & highly respected name can be purchased for a few

[ozzy72]

Or Supermarine Hagar, at least Supermarine (based in Aus.) are making the Spitfire replica at 80% scale.
Hmm maybe there is a market for this kind of business (not that I'm desperate for the money or anything you understand, its just I can't bear the thought of all my bread going on baby rather than my Spit ).

Ozzy

[Felix/FFDS]

The company appears to be UGG Australia, based in Arizona, USA.

Obviously it's banking on the "traditional" name and even country name, but it appears to be a hot selling item.

Heck, you might as well look deeper into the company, it could be some Australian behind it!!  :)

[Hagar]

Some companies specialise in seeking out unused company names & snapping them up for a pittance. They can then sell them off to the highest bidder making a big profit in the process.

My boss used to purchase aircraft spares at liquidation auctions. In most cases these are offered as a job lot with the office furniture & all sorts of useless junk. Sometimes the company name went with it. You had to bid for the whole bundle or not at all. He acquired the Norman Aircraft Co & rights to all the aircraft it produced in this way.

[Woodlouse2002]

A good example of this is with Rolls Royce. VW brought the company along with Bently. But BMW snatched the Rolls Royce name for a mere 4 million.

[Felix/FFDS]

A good example of this is with Rolls Royce. VW brought the company along with Bently. But BMW snatched the Rolls Royce name for a mere 4 million.

What a coincidence - Rolls-Royce did the same thing with Bentley ...  snatched it up cheaply.

as an aside - question - who owns "Westinghouse" ..

[FLYING_TRUCKER]

Does Rolls-Royce not exist as a separate entity now?

What about Land Rover...I heard Ford had something to do with them?

Cheers...Happy Landings....Doug

[Felix/FFDS]

Does Rolls-Royce not exist as a separate entity now?

What about Land Rover...I heard Ford had something to do with them?

Cheers...Happy Landings....Doug

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars are owned by BMW.

Aero-Engines are now produced by what started as a joint venture with BMW.  The jv is now fully owned by Rolls-Royce plc, and the legal name of the company is now Rolls-Royce Deutschland Ltd & Co KG.

http://www.rolls-royce.com/history/timeline/default.htm

also interesting:
http://www.rolls-royce.com/history/time ... meline.htm

[Hagar]

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has now moved from Crewe to its new home at Goodwood, Sussex. http://www.carnetnews.co.uk/news/story1055.html
The new factory is almost directly opposite the airfield entrance. http://www.bmwworld.com/models/new/rr.htm

PS. RR car production was transferred from Derby to the WWII Merlin shadow factory at Crewe in 1946.

[pete]

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars has now moved from Crewe to its new home at Goodwood, Sussex. http://www.carnetnews.co.uk/news/story1055.html
The new factory is almost directly opposite the airfield entrance. http://www.bmwworld.com/models/new/rr.htm

PS. RR car production was transferred from Derby to the WWII Merlin shadow factory at Crewe in 1946.

To point out the details:.
The RR Auto company base in Crewe was bought by VW & still produces Bentley cars at the same factory in Crewe using the same craftsmen

BMW purchased the right to use the name 'Rolls Royce' but started a brand new factory - with new staff (Dutch, German, British

[Woodlouse2002]

There is a brand new Bentley about to roll out soon - the Continental GT - produced by the old RR factory & skilled craftsmen.

That is a nice car.

[Professor Brensec]

Re the name "Ugh". I don't think there is or ever was an "Ugh Boot Company" as such. As I said, here they have been such an institution for so long it's like ............."T-Shirt". No-one would, or I can't imagine could, call themselves the 'T-Shirt Company' and bar everyone else from using the term. It's in the 'public domain', and once it is, there it stays forever!

It's just what we call them (and what they were called 90 years ago). The full length ones look much like the seal-skin boots that the Eskimos wear (hence the name "Ugh" - apparently that's supposed to mean something in Eskimo.......lol )

As for Ford owning Jag. I've noticed that the price of the new Iags (X-type and S-type) have become quite reasonable. They're beautiful cars too. Gone back to the '50's rounded shape but still have the modern style and appointments. They have Ford engines too, I'm told.

Probably make them far more reliable than any Jag as ever been......lol   Sorry Poms, but it's true of ALMOST everything British that's mechanical (except the Spit, of course):

If your Triumph Cycle doesn't leak oil, you get extra warranty because there's obviously something wrong with it!
If you Norton last a year without an electrical problem, it must be a Japanese 'Knock-off'!
If your Jag is out of the shop for more than 6 straight months, it must really be a Ford.................  I kill me........