News; Ugg Boots Federal

The Ugg Boots Federal Court in 2008 found they were guilty of contempt,but the actual penalty was only determined this year.

In the interim,the Federal Court found for Deckers on the original claims of trade mark and copyright infringement,passing off and breaches of the Trade Practices Ugg Bailey Button Boots Act.

Justice Tracey held that:In respect of the 10 charges proven against Vladimir Vaysman,the Court ordered imprisonment for each of the charges.The longest,a three year term,was because he had caused and encouraged the use of a factory for manufacturing and selling counterfeit Ugg Boots from December 2005 to at least November Women Ugg Boots 2007.

This resulted in the sale of over 30,000 pairs of counterfeit Ugg boots,and profits of more than $3 million.The Court had regard to "the need for both personal and general deterrence"and also the serious infringement of Deckers' rights and the severe undermining by Mr Vaysman of the Court's authority, stating that "Mr Vaysman's conduct falls within the most serious category of criminal contempt cases" and that he had "contumelious disregard of the orders made by the Ugg Classic Cardy Boots Court".