Minnesota firm sues parent company of UGG boots

A Minnesota company called Ugglebo Clogs is suing the parent company of UGG boots, alleging their use of the word "ugg" as a brand name is confusing consumers.

Ugglebo Clogs in Chisago City wants a federal judge in Minnesota to order Deckers Outdoor Corp. to stop using the word ugg as a trademark, or in the marketing of its boots. The lawsuit filed Friday alleges the UGG brand is harming Ugglebo Clogs and is an act of trademark infringement.

Ugglebo Clogs says it owns the worldwide rights to the Ugglebo trademark and distributes footwear called Ugglebo clogs - which have been made by the same family in Sweden for nearly 50 years.

The lawsuit claims the word ugg is a generic term for sheepskin boots in Australia.

A message left with UGG Australia was not immediately returned Friday.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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