Pioneer Electronics Australia Pty Ltd v Lee [2000] FCA 1926

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Pioneer Electronics Australia Pty Ltd v Lee [2000] FCA 1926

COPYRIGHT – Importation and sale of "Pioneer" Digital Video Disk (DVD) players ‑ Players programmed to receive DVDs from Japan region and set to operate at 100 volts ‑ DVDs, packaging and instruction manual incorporating "Pioneer" trade marks ‑ Whether importation constituted breach of ss 37 and 38 of Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) ‑ DVD players not yet released in Australia by copyright owner ‑ Whether ss 37 and 38 deal only with parallel importation ‑ Whether licence to import ‑ Whether importer had actual or constructive notice that importation and sale of players would constitute infringement of copyright if players had been manufactured by it in Australia ‑ Appropriate test to determine personal liability of director for act of corporation. TRADE PRACTICES ‑ 100 volt Pioneer DVD players sold with transformer made by another company to enable operation at 240 volts ‑ Whether player and transformer safe for use ‑ Whether a representation that DVD and transformer together were suitable and safe for use ‑ Whether representation that applicant had sponsorship or approval of Pioneer ‑ Whether proof of damage necessary to obtain relief ‑ Passing off ‑ Appropriate test to determine personal liability of director for act of corporation. Copyright Act 1968 ss 36, 37, 103, 119 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 52 and 53(d) R A & A Bailey & Co v Boccaccio Pty Ltd (1986) 6 IPR 279 discussed Roland Corporation v Lorenzo & Sons Pty Ltd (1991) 105 ALR 623 cited Avel Pty Ltd v Multicoin Amusements Pty Ltd (1990) 171 CLR 88 applied Lorenzo & Sons Pty Ltd v Roland Corporation (1992) 23 IPR 376 cited Interstate Parcel Express Co Pty Ltd v Time‑Life International (Nederlands) BV (1977) 138 CLR 534 cited RCA Corporation v Custom Cleared Sales Pty Ltd (1978) 19 ALR 123 applied Star Micronics Pty Ltd v Five Star Computers Pty Ltd (1990) 18 IPR 225 cited Apple Computer Inc v Computer Edge Pty Ltd (1984) 53 ALR 225 cited Raben Footwear Pty Ltd v Polygram Records Inc (1997) 37 IPR 417 applied Puxu Pty Ltd v Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty Ltd (1979) ATPR 40‑135 applied World Series Cricket Pty Ltd v Parish (1977) ATPR 40,040 applied Wardley Australia Ltd v Western Australia (1992) 175 CLR 514 cited A G Spalding & Bros v A W Gamage Ltd (1915) 84 LJ Ch 449 cited Baume & Co Ltd v A H Moore Ltd [1958] Ch 907 cited Millington v Fox (1838) 3 My & Cr 338 cited Warnink v J Townend & Sons (Hull) Ltd [1979] AC 731 cited Conagra Inc v McCain Foods (Aust) Pty Ltd (1992) 33 FCR 302 cited H P Bulmer Ltd and Showerings Ltd v J Bollinger SA [1978] RPC 79 cited Performing Right Society Ltd v Ciryl Theatrical Syndicate Ltd [1924] 1 KB 1 followed Kalamazoo (Aust) Pty Ltd v Compact Business Systems Pty Ltd (1985) 84 FLR 101 followed Martin Engineering Co v Nicaro Holdings Pty Ltd (1991) 100 ALR 358 followed Microsoft Corp v Auschina Polaris Pty Ltd (1996) 142 ALR 111 followed Lott v JWB & Friends Pty Ltd [2000] SASC 3 followed Henley Arch Pty Ltd v Clarendon Homes (Aust) Pty Ltd (1998) 41 IPR 443 followed Mentmore Manufacturing Co Ltd v National Merchandising Manufacturing Co Inc (1978) 89 DLR (3d) 195 considered White Horse Distillers Ltd v Gregson Associates Ltd [1984] RPC 61 cited King v Milpurrurru (1996) 136 ALR 327 cited Trevor Ivory Ltd v Anderson [1992] 2 NZLR 517 considered Said v Butt [1920] 3 KB 497 cited O'Brien v Dawson (1942) 66 CLR 18 cited Rutherford v Poole [1953] VLR 130 cited Root Quality Pty Ltd v Root Control Technologies Pty Ltd [2000] FCA 980 cited PIONEER ELECTRONICS AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED and PIONEER KABUSHIKI KAISHA v BENJAMIN LEE and ALRICARBEN PTY LIMITED VG 723 OF 1997 SUNDBERG J 22 DECEMBER 2000 MELBOURNE