Knott Investments Pty Ltd v Winnebago Industries, Inc [2013] FCAFC 59

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Knott Investments Pty Ltd v Winnebago Industries, Inc [2013] FCAFC 59 Citation: Knott Investments Pty Ltd v Winnebago Industries, Inc [2013] FCAFC 59

Appeal from: Winnebago Industries, Inc v Knott Investments Pty Ltd (No 2) [2012] FCA 785

Parties: KNOTT INVESTMENTS PTY LTD, AUSTRALIAN MOTOR HOMES PTY LTD (ACN 073 625 868), COUNTRY MOTOR COMPANY PTY LTD (ACN 002 189 228), SYDNEY CAMPERVAN & MOTORHOME RV CENTRE PTY LTD (ACN 112 316 560), WODONGA CAR WORLD PTY LTD (ACN 100 119 588), GEELONGWIN PTY LTD (ACN 121 112 392), HYDEN COVE PTY LTD (ACN 051 539 069), BRISBANE RV'S CARAVANS AND CAMPERS PTY LTD (ACN 102 806 520), BOLNIP PTY LTD (ACN 093 448 812), PARKLAND 1998 PTY LTD (ACN 081 503 184), WINNEBAGO ADELAIDE PTY LTD (ACN 141 042 480) and A & K CARAVANS AND MOTOR HOMES PTY LTD (ACN 100 888 748) v WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC

File number: NSD 1417 of 2012

Judges: ALLSOP CJ, COWDROY J and JAGOT J

Date of judgment: 7 June 2013

Catchwords: TRADE AND COMMERCE – passing off and misleading or deceptive conduct – relevant date of the allegedly wrongful conduct – whether foreign business had sufficient reputation in Australia to sustain causes of action – significance of the appellants' subsequent development of a reputation in the Winnebago brand – estoppel, acquiescence, laches, delay – discretionary refusal or limitation of injunctive relief – breach of contract – cancellation of trade mark

Legislation: Australian Consumer Law ss 18 and 29(1)(g) Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) ss 43, 57, 72(3), 88, 88(2)(a), 88(2)(c), Pt 4 Div 2, Pt 5 Div 2, Pt 7 Div 2 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 52, 53(c), 53(d)