It is often said that success has many fathers, while failure is an orphan. Such is the case with Ugg boots, which have been a popular style of boots for over a decade now. Though there origins are in dispute, we do know that they were developed in either Australia or New Zealand. In fact, manufactures of Ugg-style boots from both countries were embroiled in bitter disputes with an American company that owned the trademark to the name Ugg. The locals claimed that "Ugg" was a generic term and therefore was ineligible for trademark protection. Who was right? Let us take a moment to examine the puzzling history of Uggs. If you want to trace the history of anything, it is often best to start with its etymology. What are the origins of the word Ugg? While some surmise that it is simply a shorter, catchier way to say ugly, there is ample evidence that Ugg boots were once called fug boots. Worn by aviators during the First World War, flyboys called them "flying Ugg boots," or "uggs," for short. While the exact origins are in doubt, we do know the name of the man who was responsible for taking Uggs global. In 1979, Brian Smith established Ugg Holdings, Inc. in the United States. The former Australian surfer had been using Uggs for years, as they were a popular form of footwear with surfers Down Under. B2C | B2B2C