Apple Computer Inc & anor v Computer Edge Pty Ltd & anor [1983] FCA 358
Federal Court of Australia
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IN THO FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTPALTA
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NeW SOUTH WALES DiSTRICT REGISTRY )
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GENERAL DIVISTON No. G130 of 1983
BETWEEN: APPLE COMPUTER INC. and
APPLE COMPUTER AUSTRALIA PTY. LIMITED
Applicants
AND: COMPUTER EDGE PTY. LIMITED and
MICHAEL SUSS
Respondents
AND: COMPUTER EDGE PTY. LIMITED and
MICHAEL SUSS
Cross Claimants
AND: APPLE COMPUTER AUSTRALIA PTY. LIMTTED
Cross Respondent
\
CORRIG™DA
On page 10 line 13, befory the words "the respondent" the
word "reaons" should read "reasons".
D. Chang
Associate to
Mx. Justice Beaumont.
CATCHWORDS
Trade Practices - Misleading or deceptive conduct - Sale of
micro-computer similar in appearance and able to operate using
applicant's (Apple) computer programmes - Advertisements stating
that the computer's software 'compatible with' applicant's
computer programme - Whether misleading or deceptive conduct -
Whether suggestion that respondents' computers manufactured,
sold or advertised by or with licence of applicant question of
fact - Prominent label sufficient to distinguish two products
and dispel alleged connection.
Copyright - alleged copyright infringement - Whether Court has
jurisdiction to entertain claim under s.32 Federal Court of
Australia Act - Claim that computer programmes are "original
literary works" within meaning of Act considered - Whether
computer programmes protected by copyright - Respondents'
micro-computers alleged to incorporate reproduction of programmes
used in applicant's computer.
Trade Practices Act, 1974 ss.52, 53(c), 53(d), 55, 80.
Copyright Act, 1968 ss.37, 38, 115
Federal Court of Australia Act, 1976 s.32
APPLE COMPUTER INC. and APPLE COMPUTER AUSTRALIA PTY. LIMITED
v. COMPUTER EDGE PTY. LIMITED and MICHAEL SUSS
No. G130 of 1983
Beaumont, J.
7 December, 1983.
Sydney.
"s IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY
GENERAL DIVISION
BETWEEN:
i
E
Judge making orders:
Date orders made:
we ww
No. G130 of 1983
APPLE COMPUTER INC. and
APPLE COMPUTER AUSTRALIA PTY. LIMITED
Applicants
COMPUTER EDGE PTY. LIMITED and
MICHAEL SUSS
Respondents :
COMPUTER EDGE PTY. LIMITED and
MICHAEL SUSS
Cross Claimants
APPLE COMPUTER AUSTRALIA PTY. LIMITED
Cross Respondent
ORDERS
Beaumont, J.
7 December, 1983.
Where made: Sydney.
THE COURT ORDERS THAT:
1. The application be dismissed as against the first
and second respondents.
2. Applicants pay the costs of the first and second
respondents of the claim.
3. The cross-claim be stood over generally with liberty
to restore on three days' notice.
4. - Costs of the cross-claim be reserved.
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY
ews ws
GENERAL DIVISION No. G130 of 1983
BETWEEN: APPLE COMPUTER INC. and
APPLE COMPUTER AUSTRALIA PTY.
LIMITED
Applicants
AND: COMPUTER EDGE PTY. LIMITED
and MICHAEL SUSS
Respondents
ie
COMPUTER EDGE PTY. LIMITED
and MICHAEL SUSS
Cross Claimants
AND: APPLE COMPUTER AUSTRALIA PTY.
LIMITED. SOSOCSCS~S~S~S~S~S
Cross Respondent
CORAM: Beaumont, J.
DATED: 7 December, 1983.
REASONS FOR JUDGMENT
These are proceedings for injunctive relief
pursuant to s.80 of the Trade Practices Act, 1974 and
pursuant to s.115 of the Copyright Act, 1968; damages and an
'|
2.
account of profits are also sought. Contraventions of
ss.52, 53(c), 53(da) and 55 of the Trade Practices Act and
infringements of copyright are alleged. The proceedings
arise out of the importation into and sale in, Australia by
the first respondent, a Victorian company, of
micro-computers under the name "Wombat". The second
respondent is the managing director of the first respondent
which retails computers and computer equipment. The
"Wombat" computer is manufactured in Taiwan without the
consent of the applicants. Put simply, the applicants claim
that to the knowledge of the respondents, the Taiwanese
manufacturer of the "Wombat" computer has copied their
"software" (computer equipment) and "hardware" (peripheral
equipment).
The first applicant, a Californian corporation,
makes and sells computers under the name "Apple". The second
applicant is the Australian distributor of the first
applicant's computers, including the "Apple II" computer.
The primary claim under _s.52 and other provisions of the
Trade Practices Act
By their statement of claim, the applicants contend
that, in marketing the Wombat computer, the first respondent
Trade Practices Act are invoked.
3.
is selling or offering for sale micro-computers which are
similar in shape and have a similar keyboard to the Apple II
computer and operate using Apple II programmes; that the
first respondent is advertising that the Wombat computer is
"compatible with programs for the Apple II;" and that such
conduct signifies that the Wombat computers are manufactured
or sold or advertised by or with the licence of the
applicants or otherwise have the same provenance as the
Apple II computers. Thus, ss.52, 53(c), 53(d) and 55 of the
or
There 1s no dispute as to the primary facts in this
part of the claim. They are contained in the statement of
agreed facts:
"7. The first applicant has made and
sold computers under the names
'APPLE Il', 'APPLE II PLUS',
'APPLE EUROPLUS' AND 'APPLE IILE'.
8. A large number of computers
(including Apple II computers)
have been sold throughout the
world and throughout Australia
under the name 'Apple'.
9. The applicants have advertised
and promoted computers under the
name Apple (including computers
under the name APPLE II) widely
throughout Australia and
throughout the world.
10. The applicants have a substantial
reputation in Apple II
micro-computers.
4.
ll. A great deal of software
(computer programmes ) and
hardware (peripheral equipment)
is compatible with Apple II
computers.
* 12. The first respondent has imported
and sold in Australia and, unless
restrained, will sell in
Australia micro-computers under
the name WOMBAT.
13. Programmes suitable for Apple II
computers-, can be used for Wombat
computers .:7
14. The similarities and differences
between the shape of the Apple II
computer and the shape of the
Wombat computer are apparent on a
visual inspection of examples of
the two computers which will be
identified by agreement. (This
was done by evidence given by
David Roxbrugh Strong, the
Managing Director of the second
applicant.)
15. The first respondent has
published and, unless restrained,
will publish advertisements
stating that 'Wombat software is
compatible with programmes for
the Apple II'.
16. A book entitled 'Apple II User's
Guide' has been supplied by the
first respondent to some of its
customers. (The book was
tendered.)"
Mr. Strong gave evidence that more than 20,000
Apple II computers have been installed in Australia and that
such computers have been advertised and promoted widely
throughout Australia. He also gave evidence which, the
applicants claim, indicated that the Apple II computer is of
a distinctive and unusual shape and appearance so far as its
5.
external casing, its keyboard and its internal components
and layout are concerned. Mr. Strong also said that the
various models of the Apple II computer constitute a range
of products; that the range has included a computer known
as Apple II "Europlus", from which the current model, the
Apple II is derived; and that the applicants presently sell
a computer under the brand name "Lisa".
.
'
wt
The applicants submit that a visual inspection of
the equipment indicates that the Wombat computer' is "closely
similar" to the Apple II computer in physical appearance.
Further, they say, the references, in the advertising, to
the "compatibility" of the Apple programmes suggests a
connection with the applicants.
The respondents, on the other hand, contend that
their product is easily distinguished from the Apple II
computer and that there is no room for confusion between the
two products, let alone conduct which is misleading or
deceptive: they point to the facts that the Wombat computer
is well and prominently labelled with the word "Wombat";
and that, in any event there are a number of differences in
appearance. In particular, the Wombat keyboard has a
numeric keypad as one of its most prominent visual features;
the colour of the keyboard and the size and shape of the
keys is not the same in the Wombat and the AppleII; and the
overall shape of the two differs in many respects including
6.
the lines across the top of the instrument, the shape of the
bevelled edge and the appearance of the power light. The
respondents then argue that a reference to "compatibility"
with programmes for the Apple II cannot convey any
suggestion that Wombat computers are manufactured, sold or
advertised by or with the licence of the applicants. They
also contend that the distribution of the booklet "The Apple
II User's Guide" on the saie of a Wombat computer, cannot
expressly or by any process of implication, be construed to
be a representation that the Wombat computer is manufactured
or sold or advertised by or with the licence of the
applicants or that it has the same provenance as
micro-computers manufactured or sold by the applicants.
In my opinion, no contravention of s.52 has been
made out in the present case for the reason that the
circumstances do not disclose conduct which could, on any
view, be likely to mislead or deceive. For this purpose,
the question is one for the Court and the respondents'
conduct must be looked at as a whole. But, in the end, ina
case such as this, the issue is essentially one of fact,
namely, whether the labelling of the respondents' goods was
sufficient to dispel an impression that might otherwise be
gained from the similarity of the two products that the
respondents' goods were somehow connected with the
applicants or that the applicants approved of their sale
(see Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty. Ltd. v. Puxu Pty.
Ltd. (1982) 56 A.L.d.R. 715 per Mason, J. at p.723).
7.
In Puxu, Gibbs, C.J. explained the general position
(at p.718):
. "Speaking generally, the sale by one
manufacturer of goods which closely
resemble those of another manufacturer
is not a breach of s.52 if the goods are
properly labelled. There are hundreds
of ordinary articles of consumption
which, although made by different
manufacturers and'of different quality,
Closely resemble "one another. In some
cases this is because the design of a
particular article has traditionally, or
over a considerable period of time, been
accepted as the most suitable for the
purpose which the article serves. In
some cases indeed no other design would
be practicable. In other cases,
although the article in question is the
product of the invention of a person who
is currently trading, the suitability of
the design or appearance of the article
1s such that a market has become
established which other manufacturers
endeavour to satisfy, as they are
entitled to do if no property exists in
the design or appearance of the article.
In all of these cases, the normal and
reasonable way to distinguish one
product from another is by marks, brands
or labels. If an article is properly
labelled so as to show the name of the
manufacturer or the source of the
article its close resemblance to another
article will not mislead an ordinary
reasonable member of the public. If the
label is removed by some person for
whose acts the defendant is not
responsible, and ain consequence' the
purchaser is misied, the misleading
effect will have been produced, not by
the conduct of the defendant but by the
conduct of the person who removed the
label."
e
8.
Brennan, J. concluded (at p.729):
"Of course, where identical or similar
goods are on'the market, it may take
very little evidence of conduct
additional to the mere manufacture and
sale of goods to establish a case under
s.52. The degree of risk of confusion
is material to an appreciation of the
conduct of a trader in marking or
getting up his goods for sale in
competition with-the goods of another
trader. In the'-present case, however,
where Parkdale labelled the Rawhide
suite in accordance with the practice of
the trade and = the label clearly
distinguished that suite from the
Contour suite, there was no misleading
er deceptive get up. If customers
mistook the Rawhide suite for the
Contour suite the mistake was not
induced by Parkdale's conduct. It was
not misleading or deceptive conduct
merely to manufacture and sell a lounge
suite similar to the Contour suite --
or, for that matter, a suite identical
with the Contour suite. Something more
was needed to show conduct inducing a
mistaken belief that the Rawhide suite
was manufactured by Puxu, but the only
additional evidence, the label, showed
conduct which was calculated to correct
any confusion as to source."
In the present case, in my view, no purchaser of
the respondents' goods is likely to be misled or deceived
into believing that the respondents or their goods are in
any way associated with the applicants: on the contrary,
the respective products are clearly distinguished from one
another by the use of very different brand names and the
reference, in advertising, to the "compatibility" of Worbat
software with programmes for the Apple II computer only
serves to reinforce the distinction. In my opinion, the
primary claim under s.52 must fail.
9.
The case sought to be put by the applicants on the
other provisions of the Trade Practices Act, namely,
ss.53(c), 53(da) and 55 must also fail, for similar reasons.
Given the conclusion reached that the respondents' products
have been sufficiently distinguished from the Apple range of
computers, it must follow that no false representation of
the kind contemplated by s.53({c) or (d) has been made and
that no misleading conduct'of the kind proscribed by s.55
has been established. Again, this is essentially a question
re
of fact that must be resolved adversely to the applicants.
In the circumstances, this part of the claim is also
rejected.
The secondary claim under _s.52 and other provisions of the
Trade Practices Act.
In this claim, the applicants alleged that the
first respondent has sold, offered for sale and advertised
Micro-computers each of which contains, inter alia, three
silicon chips being ROMs (Read Only Memory) or E-PROMs
(Erasable and Programmable Read Only Memory or Electrically
Programmable Read Only Memory) or a combination of ROMs and
E-PROMs amounting to three such chips in all ("the chips");
and that for reasons later advanced by the applicants the
chips are infringing copies within the meaning of s.10 of
10.
the Copyright Act; that by virtue of s.116 of the Copyright
Act, the first applicant is entitled in respect of the chips
to the rights and remedies, by way of an action for
conversion or detention, to which it would be entitled if it
were the owner of the chips and had been the owner of the
chips since the time when they were made; that by virtue of
s.69 of the Trade Practices Act, in every contract for the
sale of micro-computers 'by the first respondent to a
consumer, there is an implied condition that the first
respondent has a right to sell the micro-computers including
the chips and an implied warranty that the consumer will
enjoy quiet possession of the micro-computers including the
chips; that, for these reaons, the respondent does not have
the right to sell the micro-computers including the chips;
so that the consumer will not enjoy quiet possession of the
micro-computers ancluding the chips in the event of
notification of the consumer by the first applicant as to
its rights and remedies with respect to the chips or in the
event of a demand by the first applicant for the return of
the chips. Thus, the applicants say, the first respondent
has engaged in conduct which 1s misleading or deceptive or
is likely to mislead or deceive within the meaning of s.52.
Similar claims are made under ss.53(g) and 55.
This claim is novel and there may well be more than
one answer to it. However, it is not necessary to discuss
all the questions raised since, for reasons I give later, in
my view, no infringement of copyright has occurred. For
that reason alone, this claim is also rejected.
ll.
The claim for infringement of copyright.
. The applicants submit that the Court has
jurisdiction to entertain this claim either by virtue of
s.32 of the Federal Court of Australia Act, 1976 or by
virtue of its accrued jurisdiction. Subject to one matter,
the respondents, aithough rot conceding the point, did not
put any argument contesting jurisdiction. The reservation
ry
expressed by the respondents was that, although argument had
taken place, the High Court had not then given judgment in
Stack v. Coast Securities (No. 9) Pty. Ltd. (1983) 57
A.L.J.R- 731 and the respondents wished to reserve the raght
to put further submissions on jurisdiction if the reasoning
in Stack suggested that it would be appropriate to do so.
Since I reserved judgment in this matter, the High Court has
given judgment in Stack (on 12 October, 1983). In my
opinion, there is nothing 1n the majority decision in that
case which would suggest that the Court does not have
jurisdiction to entertain the copyright claim, at least
under s.32. Earlier authority confirms this (see Phillip
Morris Incorporated v. Adam P. Brown Male Fashions Pty. Ltd.
(1981) 33 A.L.R. 465 at pp.476-7, 490-1, 507, 511, 524-6 and
533; Superstar Australia Pty. Ltd. v. Coonan & Denlay Pty.
Ltd. (1981) 40 A.L.R. 183 at p.187; Rolls-Royce Motors Ltd.
v. D.I.A. (Engineering) Pty. Ltd. (1981) A.T.P.R. 40-209 at
p-42896).
12...
The copyright claim is put in a number of ways.
First, it is said that the first applicant is the owner of
copyright in the following original literary works:
A. "Applesoft" - a computer programme in source code
(hereinafter called "Applesoft source");
B. "Applesoft" ~- a computer programme in machine or
object code (hereinafter called "Applesoft object");
ee
.
c. "Autostart ROM" - a computer programme in source
code (hereinafter called "Autostart source");
D. "Autostart ROM" - a computer programme in machine
or object code (hereinafter called "Autostart object")
(statement of claim, para.41).
Alternatively, it is said that the first applicant
is the owner of copyright in the following original literary
works:
(a) "Applesoft" - a computer programme in source code
("Applesoft source"); and
(b) "Autostart ROM" - a computer programme in source
code ("Autostart source") (statement of claim para.42).
13.
Alternatively it is said that the first applicant
has made or caused to be made adaptations of Applesoft
source and Autostart source being versions of those works in
object code (hereinafter called "the Applesoft adaptation"
and "the Autostart adaptation" respectively).
The applicants claim each of the works referred to
in paras.4l and 42 of the'statement of claim ("the works")
was made after 1 May, 1969 in the United states of America
oy
by persons who were citizens or nationals of or' resident in
the United states of America; that two of the chips referred
to earlier and part of the third such chip together
constitute a reproduction in a material form of the whole or
a substantial part of Applesoft source and of the whole or a
substantial part of Applesoft object. Alternatively, it is
claimed that two of the chips and part of the third such
chip together constitute a reproduction in a material form
of the whole or a substantial part of Applesoft source and
of the whole or a _ substantial part of the Applesoft
adaptation. It is further claimed that part of one of the
chips is a reproduction in a material form of a substantial
part of Autostart source and of a substantial part of
Autostart object. Alternatively, the applicants say that a
part of one of the chips is a reproduction in a material
form of a substantial part of Autostart source and of a
substantial part of the Autostart adaptation. It is then
said that the first applicant did not make the chips and
gave no licence to the respondents or any of them to make
the chips.
22.
15.
(b) mnemonics each consisting
of 3 letters of the
alphabet and each
corresponding to a
particular operation
expressed in 6502 Assembly
Code;
(c) mnemonics identifying the
register in the
microprocessor and/or the
number of the instruction
in the programme to which
the operation referred to
in (6B) relates; and
(dad) comments intended to
explain the function of the
particular part of the
programme for the benefit
of a human reader of the
programme.
It is not possible to reconstruct
from existing evidence the labels
(a) or the comments {d).
However, it is possible to
reconstruct the mnemonics
referred to under (b) and (apart
from the change in the labels
used) the mnemonics referred to
under (ec). (Such a
reconstruction appears in a
document identified and tendered
by consent).
Before 1t was destroyed, the
Applesoft source programme was
used to make another programme
called the APPLESOFT OBJECT
PROGRAMME. A computer was used
in this process and this computer
was programmed with one or more
programmes written by a person or
persons other than Wigginton.
The OBJECT PROGRAMME in the first
instance consisted of a sequence
of electrical impulses within a
computer.
14.
An infringement of copyright is thus alleged and
ss.37 and 38 are invoked against the respondents.
, Again, there is no contest on the facts.
material, the statement of agreed fact states:
"17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
Kenneth Randall Wigginton is and
has been at all material times a
citizen of the United States of
America.
In 1977 the first applicant
obtained a copy of a programme
entitled MICROSOFT BASIC from
Microsoft Inc-, a corporation
unrelated to the applicants.
Thais consisted of about 10,000
lines of code together with
comments thereon and explanation
thereof.
Between August 1977 and
approximately December 1977
Wigginton, (then employed by the
first applicant) modified the
MICROSOFT BASIC programme by
altering or rewriting some of the
lines thereof. The programme
thus modified was called
APPLESOFT.
'
Both the original MICROSOFT and
the original APPLESOFT programme
have since been destroyed.
The programme as originally
written by Wigginton had four
elements:
(a) labels identifying
particular parts of the
programme;
So far as
22A.
23.
23A.
24.
25.
26.
27.
16.
After the electrical impulses
referred to in paragraph 22 were
generated, Wigginton then used
the computer "to store a
representation of' the impulses
on a magnetic disc or tape. The
magnetic disc or tape is capable
of being used in conjunction with
a computer to generate the same
sequence of electrical impulses.
It is possible to describe this
sequence of electrical impulses
using certain conventions. In
one such 'convention, HEXADECIMAL
notation is used. (A description
of the APPLESOFT OBJECT PROGRAMME
using HEXADECIMAL notation is set
out in a document identified and
tendered.)
Magnetic tapes capable of being
used in conjunction with a
computer to generate the sequence
of electrical impulses referred
to in paragraph 22 were first
sold to the public by the first
applicant in the U.S.A. in 1978.
Wigginton executed a document (of
assignment in favour of the first
applicant) to be identified and
agreed. (This document dated 16
May, 1983 was tendered.)
At all material times Stephen
Gary Wozniak was a citizen of the
United States of America.
In 1977 Wozniak wrote a computer
programme called "SYSTEM MONITOR
PROGRAM" in the United States of
America.
The programme as originally
written by Wozniak had the four
elements described in paragraph
21. In addition, Wozniak also
wrote a number of the operating
codes in a conventional
representation in HEXADECIMAL
notation of a number of the
mnemonics expressed in 6502
ASSEMBLY CODE.
274A.
28.
29.
30.
31.
17.
With the aid of a computer,
Wozniak then generated a number
of electrical impulses, and
images on a visual display unit,
and edited the System Monitor
Programme. Wozniak then used the
computer to 'store a
representation of' the impulses
on a magnetic disc or tape. The
Magnetic disc or tape is capable
of being used in conjunction with
a computer to generate the same
sequence of electrical impulses.
oT
Silicon chips capable of being
used in conjunction with a
suitably programmed computer "ro
generate the sequence of
electrical impulses referred to
in paragraph 27 were first sold
to the public in the U.S.A. by
the first applicant in 1977.
In 1978, John Arkley, a citizen
of the United States of America,
modified the 'SYSTEM MONITOR
PROGRAM '. The programme so
modified is known as the
AUTOSTART PROGRAMME. Arkley did
this work during the course of
and within the scope of his
employment by the first
applicant.
The texts of the SYSTEM MONITOR
PROGRAMME and the AUTOSTART
PROGRAMME are to be identified
and agreed.
Wozniak executed a document (of
assignment in favour of the first
applicant) to be identified and
agreed. (This document, dated 11
August, 1980, was tendered.)
The AUTOSTART PROGRAMME was used
to make another programme called
the AUTOSTART OBJECT PROGRAMME.
A computer was used in this
process and this computer was
programmed with one or more
programmes. The OBJECT PROGRAMME
in the first instance consisted
of a sequence of electrical
impulses within a computer.
we eee
agreed:
By a statement of further agreed facts, the parties
32.
32A.
33.
34.
18.
It is possible to describe this
sequence of electrical impulses
using certain conventions. In
one such convention HEXADECIMAL
notation is used. A description
of the AUTOSTART OBJECT PROGRAMME
using HEXADECIMAL notation is set
out in a document to be
identified and agreed.
The electrical impulses referred
to in paragraph 32 were 'stored'
in the manner described in
paragraph '22A. Silicon chips
capable ° of being used in
conjunction with a computer and
another programme or programmes
to generate the sequence of
electrical impulses referred to
in paragraph 22 were first sold
to the public by the first
applicant in 1979.
The Wombat computers sold by the
first respondent contain 3 ROMS
or 3 ROMS and EPROMS.
On 15 April, 1983 the first
respondent sold to Jeffrey Duffus
McLeod, an employee of the second
applicant, a Wombat computer to
be identified and agreed. In the
same box was an "APPLE II USERS
GUIDE" to be identified and
agreed. (The guide was
tendered.)"
mo re ee me tee oes
"36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
19.
A listing of the Autostart ROM
program in hexadecimal notation
was filed by the first applicant
in the U.S. Copyright Office. A
copy of the certificate of
registration is Ex 'S'; a copy of
the listing is Ex 'T'. The
effective date of registration is
14 April, 1982.
A listing of the Applesoft
program in hexadecimal notation
from location EOOO to location
FPSFF was -filed by the first
applicant: tin the U.S. Copyright
Office. A copy of the
certificate of registration is Ex
'U'; a copy of the listing is -Ex
'Vi. The effective date of
registration is 4 May, 1982.
By oversight, at the time of
these proceedings, the listing
which is Ex ''V' does not contain
a listing of Applesoft from
location DOOO to DFFF.
A complete listing of the
Applesoft program in hexadecimal
notation from location DOOO to
location F8FF was filed by the
first applicant in the U.S.
Copyright Office. A copy of the
certificate of registration is Ex
'W'; a copy of the listing is Ex
'xt. The effective date of
registration is 3 March, 1983.
A reconstruction of the Applesoft
program of the type described in
paragraph 21 was filed by the
first applicant in the U.S.
Copyright Office. A copy of the
certificate of registration is Ex
''y'; a copy of the document
lodged is Ex 'Z'. the effective
date of registration is 7
January, 1981.
Ex 'Z' also contains labels and
comments of the kinds referred to
in sub~paragraph 21(a) and
21(c)."
nw wee emt oe a -
20.
In addition to the facts agreed, the applicants
rely upon evidence given by Mr. Strong by affidavit and viva
vole to which reference will be made below. The respondents
callead no evidence, although Mr.Strong was cross-examined at
some length.
The applicants' claim in respect of Applesoft may be
tT
summarised as follows. In 1977, Mr. Wigginton wrote a
computer programme called "Applesoft"; 1t was, written in
the U.S.A. in the form of handwriting on paper by Mr.
Wigginton when he was an employee of the first applicant and
in the course of that employment; he has assigned any
copyright which he owned in "Applesoft" to the first
applicant; in writing "Applesoft", Mr. Wigginton took a
pre-existing work called "Microsoft Basic"; he modified and
revised this and added a substantial amount of new material;
although the material added, revised, or modified by
Wigginton cannot be identified line by line throughout
Applesoft, it relates largely to the provision of graphics
and colour sub-routines and it involved considerable skill
and labour; Mr. Wigginton first wrote "Applesoft" ina
computer "language" called 6502 Assembly language and in
that language, three letter "mnemonics" are used to
represent English words phrases and sentences; accordingly,
the applicants say, the term "notation" is to be preferred
to "language".
21.
The applicants then submit that ""Applesoft" is a
new and original literary work in which copyright subsists:
it was made when it was first written by Mr. Wigginton. The
reconstruction tendered is best evidence of it. Further,
"Applesoft Object" is a reproduction in a material form of
"Applesoft". ""Applesoft Object" has been reduced to and
embodied in a variety of material forms, namely, magnetic
disk or tape, silicon chips and computer printouts. 6502
Assembly language (or notation) and hexadecimal notation
are, the applicants contend, merely different notations for
the same words and phrases which comprise part of
""Applesoft"; alternatively, "Applesoft Object" is a new
original literary work distinct from "Applesoft", of which
new work Wigginton is the author; alternatively, "Applesoft
Object" is an adaptation or translation of "Applesoft".
J P
A similar case is put in respect of the Autostart
programme.
In considering whether the respondents have
aunfringed the applicants' alleged copyright in one or more
of these alleged literary works, the following issues at
least arise as to each of the alleged literary works:
(a) Is it a "literary work" within the meaning of the
Copyright Act? -
22.
(b) If so, is it an "original literary work" within the
meaning of that Act?
(c) .I£ copyright subsists in the alleged work, is the
first applicant now and has it been at all material times
the owner of this copyright?
(d) If so, would the making of the ROMs in the Wombat,
if they had been made in Australia by the respondents, have
P4
7?
r
constituted an infringement of this copyright?
(e) If so, was this known to the second respondent?
In my opinion, none of the programmes are literary
works within the meaning of the statute. In my view, a
literary work for this purpose is something which was
intended to afford "either information or instruction or
pleasure in the form of literary enjoyment" (see Hollingrake
v. Truswell (1894) 3 Ch.420; Exxon Corporation v. Exxon
Insurance Consultants International Ltd. (1982) R.P.C. 69 at
p-88; cf. D.P. Anderson & Co. Ltd. v. Lieber Code Company
(1917) 2 K.B. 469; Mirror Newspapers Ltd. v. Queensland
Newspapers Ltd. (1982) 59 F.L.R. 71; Northern Office Micro
Computers (Pty.) Ltd. v. Rosenstein (1981) (4) S.A. 123(c);
Sega _ Enterprises Ltd. v. Richards (1983) F.S.R. 73> at
pp.74-5). The function of a computer programme is to
23-
control the sequence of operations carried out by a
computer. In this sense, as Dr. Emmerson submitted on
behalf of the respondents, a contrast may properly be drawn
between .something which is merely intended to assist the
functioning of a mechanical device and literary work so
called. The position is even stronger in the case of the
object programme, as Rosenstein, supra, recognises: this
type of programme as Dr. Eiftmerson submitted, is at a more
advanced stage of the process of controlling the sequence of
"fy
-
operations carried out by a computer.
Support for the conclusion I have formed may, I
think, be found in the circumstance that the legislature has
decided to extend the protection afforded by statutory
copyright to literary works in the form. of cinematograph
films, sound recordings and the like. This was done at a
time when computers had been developed and were well known.
In my view, the omission by the Parliament to make any
reference to computers or computer equipment when it
determined to extend the scope of copyright protection
should be treated as an indication on its part that this
field was not to be afforded the significant privilege given
by copyright, but intended rather to leave such matters to
be dealt with by other legislation dealing with patents and
industrial designs. As a matter of policy, support for this
approach is found in the observations made by Fox and
24.
pet ete
Franki, JJ. in Edwards Hot Water Systems v. S.W. Hart & Co.
Pty. Ltd. - unreported 12 October, 1983 at pp. 7, 10, ll; 7,
8 and 34 respectively).
I should add that because of the 1976 and 1980
amendments to the United States copyright legislation,
specifically dealing with copyright protection for computer
programmes, decisions of the Courts of that country, e.g.
Apple Computer Inc. v. Franklin Computer Corporation -
eT
unreported, 30 August, 1983, cannot assist in the present
case.
In the circumstances, it is unnecessary that I deal
with the other arguments advanced on behalf of the
respondents. I propose to dismiss the copyright claim and
thus to dismiss the application, with costs.
The respondents have cross~claimed for an
injunetion to restrain the applicants from (inter alia)
sending a circular letter making various claims which, the
respondents say, are misleading and deceptive. It is
possible that this is no longer a live issue between the
parties and, therefore, I propose to stand the cross-claim
over generally but to reserve liberty to apply should that
be necessary.
! certify thar this and
Pages are a true Copy of the reasons for
Judgment herein of The Honourable
Mr Justice Beaumoni. Deine
_ 'Aste iate
Dated / Deemie-17 73 wae
the <3 preceding
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