Regent's Pty Ltd v Subaru (Aust) Pty Ltd [1998] FCA 730

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA TRADE PRACTICES - misuse of market power - termination of dealership for sale and service of Subaru motor vehicles - refusal to supply genuine parts - market definition - whether wholesale parts market - relevance of substitutability of non‑genuine parts - relationship between parts and vehicles - purpose of refusal. TRADE PRACTICES - misuse of market power - whether market for authorisation of grant/privilege/benefit of authorised dealer status in relation to resale of Subaru spare parts to the public. TRADE PRACTICES - misuse of market power - whether market for provision of service comprising grant of privilege/benefit of authorised dealer status in relation to servicing, maintenance, repair of Subaru vehicles (including manufacturer approved warranty work) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), ss 4E, 4F(b), 46(1), 46(3), 46(4)(b) Queensland Wire Industries Pty Ltd v Broken Hill Proprietary Co Ltd (1989) 167 CLR 177, followed News Limited v Australian Rugby Football League Ltd & Ors (1995) 58 FCR 447, followed Re Tooth & Co Ltd; Re Tooheys Ltd [1979] ATPR 18, 174, considered Singapore Airlines Ltd v Taprobane Tours WA Pty Ltd (1991) 33 FCR 158, considered Hugin Kassaregister AB and Hugin Cash Registers Ltd v Commission of the European Communities [1979] ECR 1869; [1979] CMLR 345, considered Mark Lyons Pty Ltd v Bursill Sportsgear Pty Ltd (1987) 75 ALR 581, followed QIW Retailers Ltd v David's Holdings Pty Ltd (No 3) (1993) 42 FCR 255, followed Eastman Kodak Co v Image Technical Services, Inc 504 US 451 (1992), considered REGENTS PTY LTD (ACN 008 706 894) v SUBARU (AUST) PTY LTD (ACN 000 312 792) WAG 150 of 1995 R D NICHOLSON J PERTH 24 JUNE 1998

GENERAL DISTRIBUTION IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

western australia DISTRICT REGISTRY WAG 150 of 1995