National Rugby League Investments Pty Limited v Singtel Optus Pty Ltd [2012] FCAFC 59

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

National Rugby League Investments Pty Limited v Singtel Optus Pty Ltd [2012] FCAFC 59 Citation: National Rugby League Investments Pty Limited v Singtel Optus Pty Ltd [2012] FCAFC 59

Appeal from: Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v National Rugby League Investments Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] FCA 34

Parties: NATIONAL RUGBY LEAGUE INVESTMENTS PTY LIMITED (ACN 081 778 538) and AUSTRALIAN RUGBY FOOTBALL LEAGUE LIMITED (ACN 003 107 293) v SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD (ACN 052 833 206), OPTUS MOBILE PTY LTD (ACN 054 365 696), AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE (ACN 004 155 211) and TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED (ACN 051 775 556) AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE (ACN 004 155 211) and TELSTRA CORPORATION LIMITED (ACN 051 775 556) v SINGTEL OPTUS PTY LTD (ACN 052 833 208) and OPTUS MOBILE PTY LTD (ACN 054 365 696)

File numbers: NSD 201 of 2012 NSD 206 of 2012

Judges: FINN, EMMETT AND BENNETT JJ

Date of judgment: 27 April 2012

Catchwords: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – copyright – television broadcast and cinematograph film – copying – infringement – television broadcasts recorded and copied at request of subscriber by automated recording system owned by Optus – "time-shifting" – copy streamed by system to subscriber at subscriber's request – who is maker of the copy – whether Optus or Optus and subscriber make(s) the copy STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) –meaning of 'make' for purposes of ss 86 and 87 –automated recording system creating copy STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) – infringement – s 111 exception – private and domestic use – remote recording and copying device – circumstances in which this defence can be invoked – does not apply to person who does not make a copy for their private time-shifting purposes