The ACCC continues its focus on "Australian made" claims having commenced court proceedings against Marksun Australia Pty Ltd (Marksun). The ACCC alleges that from at least 1 June 2010, Marksun represented that its ugg boots were made in Australia when the ugg boots were in fact made in China.
The representations were made on the following websites:
- www.marksunboots.com.au;
- www.uggbootsonsale.com.au; and
- www.uggbootsoutlet.com.au.
The ACCC is seeking declarations, injunctions, civil pecuniary penalties, costs and corrective notices against Marksun.
Not only is this case an example of the ACCC continuing to be aggressive in relation to alleged false "Australian made" claims, it is also an example of the traps associated with on-line advertising.
Marketers may think websites do not need legal clearance for compliance with the ACL but this is far from the case. Websites, like all other forms of advertising, need legal review before they go live and whenever their content is amended.
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