On March 22, 1948, The Federal Trade Commission ordered Willys-Overland Motors, Inc. to stop advertising that it had created or designed the “jeep.” Said FTC: although Willys-Overland “made an outstanding contribution in its powerful engine as well as in other features of the vehicle,” the credit belonged jointly to four companies—Willys-Overland, American Bantam Car Co., Ford Motor Co., Spicer Manufacturing Co. (now Dana Corp.)—and the Army.

Read more: Facts & Figures, Mar. 22, 1948 – TIME http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,804527,00.html#ixzz2s81qUrOv