I noticed our country motors , in nowra now is not country Winnebago any more

its now called Avida motor homes, or some thing like that, is this for all Winnebago dealers

now or just us??

There was this post on GN Milo, a look at the Avida website will give you more info,

Winnebago Australia successful in retaining the Winnebago Brand

The Full Federal Court of Australia recently handed down its decision on the appeal by Winnebago Australia for the rights to use the Winnebago name in Australia. The three judges were unanimous in their decision that Winnebago Australia can continue to use the Winnebago name.

Winnebago Industries of Iowa in the United States of America, a company not associated with Winnebago in Australia had, after a period of over three decades, decided to take action to prevent Winnebago Australia from using the name despite Winnebago Australia having launched the first Winnebago branded motorhome in 1978 and being a signatory to an agreement with the US company.

Legal action was commenced by the USA giant in 2010 to take possession of the Winnebago name in Australia and the Federal Court decision handed down in July 2012 decided in favour of the overseas manufacturer.

Winnebago Australia appealed the decision which was heard by the Full Federal Court of Australia on March 26 and the appeal judges decided that Winnebago Australia can continue to utilise the Winnebago name on its products and marketing activity.

"The court's decision is very pleasing and vindicates our position in this matter", said Mr Ben Binns, Director and CEO of Winnebago Australia. "The company has been in our family for 48 years and being Australian owned, our goal is to support manufacturing in Australia and of course our very loyal Australian workforce and customer base".

Earlier this year, the company took appropriate steps to launch another brand, Avida. "We wanted our own Australian identity and I believe that we have been very successful in launching the Avida brand in Australia and New Zealand". "Avida is the brand which we intend to go forward with into the future" Mr Binns said. Winnebago Australia will continue to promote the Avida brand on its products, and to assist in providing further credibility to Avida, the company will promote Avida as the makers of the Australian Winnebago, linking the company's heritage since 1965 to the newest motorhome brand on the market.

Release ends 14 June 2013

 Aussie company can manufacture using the brand name Winnebago  despite having no agreement with the brand name owner. And now what happens to the brand name Avida.

I wonder at the logic behind the whole business. Big stink when another country tried to hijack the Uggboot brand of footwear. Yet here we have a company using an Iconic American brand name.

Or has it got to the point where the brand name is absorbed into the language. Like Hoovering for vacuuming or a Thermos for a vacuum flask.

I have seen some very clever take offs of the Winnebago.......... The Hinobago   The Coastabago and a few others.

I'm not sure if they originally had an agreement with Winnebago in the USA Yuglamron, this is Avida's site though, some info on "About Us" and "Media" tabs on this link; http://www.avidarv.com.au/ 

It might be a bit like Jayco in Australia, they must have some agreement with the US Jayco mob to use the Jayco name.  The Australian Jayco company is independent of Jayco USA.

See these links; http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jayco,_Inc  &  http://www.jaycofactorydirect.com/ 

A'van Australia also have some connection with the original US makers of A'liners see this link;

http://www.aliner.com/brand 

milo wrote:

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wonder if there will still be the Winnebago club,
thats something i would like to do , join a club of some sorts

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 Yes, it is still in existence Milo, you don't have to own a Winnebago or Avida to belong to it, see;

http://www.wrvc.com.au/ 

http://www.avidarv.com.au/about-avida/wrv-club 

Hi again Yug, remember the tussle over the name Ugg Boots?  I think the original company won the copyright battle on those.

Edit:  After reading this link it seems it is a very confusing issue, see;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ugg_boots_trademark_dispute 

I notice Rivers sell their similar to Ugg boots product as "Shaggers".   

Milo, from what I have read in those links, it would seem the Winnebago Club is the same club, but just may have changed it to Winnebago/Avida, probably over time they will just drop the name Winnebago although they won the right to continue using it.

I'll bet the US Winnebago mob will appeal the Australian court decision that is why I think eventually the Avida name has fully established and recognised they will probably stop referring to it, in the meantime it lets people know in Australia they are the same Ozzie business who built the Ozzie Winnebago....  

Thanks for the links Duh, The original post had said that the Aussie company had an agreement in 1978 with the American company. That must have expired for them to sue the Aussie Winnebago company.

The whole business is difficult around logos  and  product names. Look at the adds for artists like Pink. You see an ad for a concert for Pink and there in the small print it says (Tribute Show) Not the only one either.

Google something and how many lookalike names appear in your search. Especially when you get hijacked by sites like 'Ask'

I can remember a few years ago Harrods in London sued a guy in NZ who called his store Harrods. His real name was Harrod but they sued him and won.

I have a mate in Qld who bought a 50's caravan last year a Panorama, researched the name and contacted the company and was told the original company had ceased trading years before so they bought the rights to the name.

It's a minefield.