The McDougalls and Uggs-N-Ruggs have been featured in Australian media reports from 2005-2006 due to their tussle with Deckers Outdoor Corporation and their registered trademarks. In early 2006 Uggs-N-Rugs was successful in having the Australian trademarks for ug, ugh and ugg removed from the register for non-use. IP Australia (the Australian trade marks office) declared that the words are interchangeable and used generically to describe sheepskin boots.
The McDougalls and Uggs-N-Ruggs have been in the news in Australia between 2005 and 2006 due to their legal battle with Deckers Outdoor Corporation over their trademarks for "ug," "ugh," and "ugg." In early 2006, Uggs-N-Rugs successfully had these trademarks removed from the Australian register because they weren't being used. The Australian trademark office ruled that these words are now generic terms for sheepskin boots.