Kovan Engineering (Aust) Pty Ltd v Gold Peg International Pty Ltd [2006] FCAFC 117

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA Kovan Engineering (Aust) Pty Ltd v Gold Peg International Pty Ltd [2006] FCAFC 117 CONTRACT – agreement in 1992for production of industrial cookers between respondent inventor and appellant manufacturer – dispute as to intellectual property rights in drawings subsequently prepared by appellant in connection with manufacture of 26 cookers over ten years – alleged misrepresentation by appellant as to ownership of respondent's business Held: (i) the 1992 Agreement was contractually binding and governed the parties' rights in respect of all 26 cookers; (ii) the 1992 Agreement contained terms to the effect that all intellectual property rights in the appellant's drawings or any modification or enhancement of them would be owned by the respondent; (iii) the appellant had contravened ss 52 and 53(a), (b) and (d) of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 52 and 53(a), (b), (d) Gold Peg International Pty Ltd v Kovan Engineering (Aust) Pty Ltd (2005) 225 ALR 57 affirmed Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118 applied CSR Ltd v Della Maddalena (2006) 224 ALR 1 applied Expectation Pty Ltd v PRD Realty Pty Ltd (2004) 140 FCR 17 at [66]-[83] followed Hunter v Transport Accident Commission [2005] VSCA 1 at [21] not followed Digi-Tech (Australia) Ltd v Brand (2004) 62 IPR 184 at [287]-[290] followed Whisprun Pty Ltd v Dixon (2003) 200 ALR 447 at [62] applied Customs and Excise Commissioners v A [2003] 2 All ER 736 at [83] followed Pagnan SpA v Feed Products Ltd [1987] 2 Lloyd's Rep 601 at 619 applied LMI Australasia Pty Ltd v Baulderstone Hornibrook Pty Ltd [2001] NSWSC 886 at [35] followed Australian Broadcasting Corporation v XIVth Commonwealth Games Ltd (1988) 18 NSWLR 540 at 548 cited Merritt v Merritt [1970] 1 WLR 1211 at 1213 cited Taylor v Johnson (1983) 151 CLR 422 at 428 cited Air Great Lakes Pty Ltd v K S Easter (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1985) 2 NSWLR 309 at 336 cited Ermogenous v Greek Orthodox Community of SA Inc (2002) 209 CLR 95 at 105-106 cited Toll (FGCT) Pty Ltd v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2003) 56 NSWLR 662 at 675 cited Yorke v Lucas (1985) 158 CLR 661 applied State Rail Authority (NSW) v Earthline Constructions Pty Ltd (1999) 73 ALJR 306 at 330 [90] applied Branir Pty Ltd v Owston Nominees (No 2) Pty Ltd (2001) 117 FCR 424 at 436 [24] followed Biogen Inc v Medeva Plc [1997] RPC 1 at 45 followed Housing Commission of New South Wales v Tatmar Pastoral Co Pty Ltd [1983] 3 NSWLR 378 at 385 applied Tatmar Pastoral Co Pty Ltd v Housing Commission of New South Wales (1984) 58 ALJR 553 followed Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 at 269-70, 280-81 applied