Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd v GlaxoSmithKline Australia Pty Ltd [2018] FCAFC 138

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd v GlaxoSmithKline Australia Pty Ltd [2018] FCAFC 138 Appeal from: GlaxoSmithKline Australia Pty Ltd v Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Limited (No 2) [2018] FCA 1

File number: NSD 292 of 2018

Judges: MCKERRACHER, YATES AND GLEESON JJ

Date of judgment: 24 August 2018

Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – comparative advertising of pain relief products in the treatment of common headaches, including tension-type headaches – whether advertising was misleading or deceptive, or likely to mislead or deceive – whether advertising made false representations

Legislation: Australian Consumer Law (Sch 2 of the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth)), ss 4, 18, 29

Cases cited: Waterways Authority v Fitzgibbon [2005] HCA 57; (2005) 221 ALR 402

Date of hearing: 20 August 2018

Registry: New South Wales

Division: General Division

National Practice Area: Commercial and Corporations

Sub-area: Regulator and Consumer Protection

Category: Catchwords

Number of paragraphs: 43

Counsel for the Appellant: Mr B Walker SC with Mr A R Vincent

Solicitor for the Appellant: HWL Ebsworth Lawyers

Counsel for the Respondents: Mr R Cobden SC with Mr H P T Bevan and Mr B Narula

Solicitor for the Respondents: Bird & Bird

ORDERS NSD 292 of 2018

BETWEEN: RECKITT BENCKISER (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD Appellant

AND: GLAXOSMITHKLINE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD First Respondent

GLAXOSMITHKLINE CONSUMER HEALTHCARE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD Second Respondent

JUDGES: MCKERRACHER, YATES AND GLEESON JJ DATE OF ORDER: 24 AUGUST 2018