Nick Xenophon hires flock of sheep for political protest outside United States company headquarters

A FEDERAL politican is helping a small Australian company fight against a global giant — by hiring a flock of sheep to protest outside its US headquarters.

POLITICAL stuntman Nick Xenophon is hiring a flock of sheep for an extraordinary international protest outside a United States company that claims it owns the global rights to the Ugg boot name.

Senator Xenophon will join small Australian Ugg boot manufacturer Eddie Oygur outside Deckers Outdoor Corporation headquarters in Santa Barbara, California, on Monday morning.

He will have a flock of sheep on hand to reinforce his point.

Mr Oygur’s Sydney business, Australian Leather, is being sued by Deckers for millions of dollars for alleged breach of trademark.

“Incredibly Deckers refers to their Ugg Boots Australia being made in China with this warning: ‘If the label says they are made in Australia or New Zealand, that is a flashing warning sign of a fake.’ Yes, seriously!” Senator Xenophon said.

He says he is paying for the trip out of his own pocket, arguing 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.