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! 

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

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.  http://daveg4otu.tripod.com/iowweb/ndn.html
We dumped most of it & I'm not sure if he still owns the company.
His brother purchased all rights to Auster Aircraft when the parent company Beagle Aircraft went bust. He later sold them on to someone else at Rearsby.

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

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

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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/timeline/timeline.htm

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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  & US) designers, etc. They have produced one model so far - the Phantom - & it's a dead dog - sales wise. It uses technology rather than craftsmanship as it's major seling piont - not to mention sheer size & 'intimidation factor'. I've actually been in one! - Quite an embarrassing car to have to get out of in public!

Meanwhile Bentley Motors (VW) in Crewe are producing the full number of cars in what used to be the Rolls Royce factory - but none roll off the line with a rolls radiator any more. There is a brand new Bentley about to roll out soon - the Continental GT - produced by the old RR factory & skilled craftsmen.



& About UGH: As Felix says - it may well be an Auzzy behind this - after all the US is by far the biggest single market in the world & it always makes sense to sell anything there

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Yup - Land Rover (incl Range Rover) is now owned by Ford - as well as Aston Martin, Jaguar, Volvo & Mazda!)

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........