Anheuser-Busch, Inc v Budejovicky Budvar, Narodni Podnik [2002] FCA 390

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Anheuser-Busch, Inc v Budějovický Budvar, Národní Podnik [2002] FCA 390

TRADE MARKS – alleged infringement of trade marks 'Budweiser' and 'Bud' – no infringement by use of one impugned mark, infringement by use of another – use as a trade mark – good faith for the purposes of paragraph 122(1)(a) of the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) not made out – claim under section 129 of the Act for groundless threats of infringement action not made out

TRADE PRACTICES – section 52 and paragraphs 53(c) and (d) of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) – misleading or deceptive conduct – use of the corporate name of the respondent including the word 'Budweiser'

PASSING OFF – use of the corporate name of the respondent including the word 'Budweiser'

Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 52, paras 53 (c) and (d) Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) ss 6, 7, 10, 17, 117, 120, 122, 129 Australian Woollen Mills Ltd v F S Walton & Co Ltd (1937) 58 CLR 641 applied Euromarket Designs Inc v Peters & Anor [2001] FSR 288 referred to Registrar of Trade Marks v Woolworths Ltd (1999) 45 IPR 411 applied The Shell Company of Australia Ltd v Esso Standard Oil (Australia) Ltd (1961) 109 CLR 407 applied Mark Foys Ltd v Davies Coop & Co Ltd (1956) 95 CLR 190 applied Angoves Pty Ltd v Johnson (1982) 43 ALR 349 referred to Seven-Up Co v Bubble Up Co Inc (1987) 9 IPR 259 referred to Re Smith Hayden & Co Ltd's Application (1946) 63 RPC 97 applied Wingate Marketing Pty Ltd v Levi Strauss & Co (1994) 49 FCR 89 applied Johnson & Johnson v Kalnin (1993) 114 ALR 215 applied In the Matter of an Application by the Pianotist Company Ltd for the Registration of a Trademark (1906) 23 RPC 774 applied Cooper Engineering Co Pty Ltd v Sigmund Pumps Ltd (1952) 86 CLR 536 applied Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co Ltd v NSW Dairy Corporation Ltd (1990) 16 IPR 289 applied New Zealand Breweries Ltd v Heineken's Bier Brewerij Maatschappij NV [1964] NZLR 115 referred to