Sydney businessman Eddie Oygur will take ugg boot battle against Deckers to US Supreme Court

An Aussie businessman is pleading for the Government to support his fight for ugg boots against a billion-dollar US company.

An Australian businessman has lost his appeal against a US clothing giant over using the term ugg boots for his sheepskin products.

Western Sydney shoemaker Eddie Oygur has been fighting outdoor clothing retailer Deckers for five years after the US company trademarked the term “Ugg” in America and more than 100 other countries.

After a Chicago court ruled against him in 2019 and ordered him to pay legal costs, Mr Oygur appealed to the Federal Court in Washington DC.

His Australia-based lawyers argued last week that the term ugg boot was widely used in Australia and should not have been trademarked, but his appeal has been struck down.

The court ruled against Mr Oygur on Friday, local time and he is now taking his case to the US Supreme Court.

“Eddie will still fight,” said lawyer Nick Xenophon, who called on the federal government to support Mr Oygur’s legal challenge.

“For Eddie to have a fighting chance he needs the Australian to get behind him.

“If the Australian government intervenes and seeks leave to appear as an interested party, that would be huge.

“This is about standing up for an iconic Australian creation and symbol, the ugg boot, and the fact that it should never have been trademarked in the US.

“Does that mean didgeridoo can be trademarked in America?”

Mr Xenophon said Mr Oygur had been forced to cut his staff from 80 to a “handful” of workers after Deckers stopped his business Australian Leather from exporting sheepskin ugg boots.

Australian Ugg boot maker Eddie Oygur and politician Nick Xenophon launch a demonstration outside the Decker Outdoor Corporation at their headquarters in Goleta, CA over the rights to the name "Ugg". Picture: Coleman-Rayner

“He’s fought this all on his own and he’s funding this appeal one ugg boot at a time,” Mr Xenophon said.

Mr Oygur said the battle had cost him more than $1.5 million.

“This is not just about me; it is about Australia taking back ‘Ugg’,” he said in a statement.

“The trademark should never have been given in the first place to the US in the mid 80s, and Deckers Outdoor Corporation has built a US$10 billion empire based on this trademark.

“It has cost thousands of Australian jobs because ugg boots should be made here rather than overseas which is where Deckers makes them.

“I have no choice but to take this all the way to the US Supreme Court. But I need the help of the Australian Government on this – I can’t do this on my own anymore.

“It’s already cost me everything I have fighting this.”

Mr Oygur’s lawyers are preparing a submission to the Australian government for support.

“How can we stand by?” Mr Xenophon said.

“He’s not just doing this for himself, he’s doing it for every ugg boot maker in Australia.

“He’s a great Aussie battler and if he wins it will be for everyone in Australia.”