Ugg design patent ruled invalid by jury
A jury in a California federal court has ruled that a design patent covering the Ugg classic ultra mini boot is invalid, defeating a claim by Deckers Outdoor Corp that retailer Quince had infringed its intellectual property rights, according to media reports.
Jurors found that Quince's Australian shearling mini boot infringed the design patent. However, they also concluded that the patent itself was invalid, leaving Deckers without a remedy.
The case has become one of the most closely watched legal disputes involving so-called "dupes", products marketed as lower-cost alternatives to established brands. Deckers sued Quince in 2023, alleging infringement of trade dress, design patent and unfair competition rights linked to its Ugg footwear designs.
Before the case reached trial, the court dismissed Deckers' trade dress claims, finding the designs too generic to qualify for protection. The jury's verdict leaves Quince victorious in a case that has tested the limits of intellectual property protection against lookalike products in the footwear market.
