Philmac Pty Limited v The Registrar of Trade Marks [2002] FCA 1551

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Philmac Pty Limited v The Registrar of Trade Marks [2002] FCA 1551 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – application for registration of a trade mark – colour mark – capability of colour applied to the designated goods of the applicant to distinguish those goods from the goods of other persons – whether mark inherently adapted to distinguish – whether by reason of the extent of the applicant's use of the mark the mark in fact distinguished the applicant's goods. JURISDICTION – appeal from decision of Registrar of Trade Marks under s 35(b) Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) – nature of appeal – appeal in nature of hearing de novo. Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth), ss 6, 17, 19, 27, 33(3), 35, 41, 63, 65, 120, 197. Trade Marks Act 1955 (Cth), s 6 Blount v Registrar of Trade Marks (1998) 83 FCR 50 – discussed Registrar of Trade Marks v Woolworths Ltd (1999) 45 IPR 411 – referred to Jafferjee v Scarlett (1937) 57 CLR 115 – referred to Rowntree PLC v Rollbits Pty Ltd (1988) 90 FLR 398 – referred to Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV v Remington Products Australia Pty Ltd (1999) 44 IPR 551; [1999] FCA 816 – referred to Ocean Spray Cranberries Inc v Registrar of Trade Marks [2000] FCA 177 – referred to Clark Equipment Co v Registrar of Trade Marks (1964) 111 CLR 511 – applied Kenman Kandy Australia Pty Ltd v Registrar of Trade Marks [2002] FCAFC 273 – discussed 'Weldmesh' Trade Mark [1966] RPC 220 – discussed Burger King Corporation v Registrar of Trade Marks (1973) 128 CLR 417 – discussed FH Faulding & Co Ltd v Imperial Chemical Industries of Australia and New Zealand Ltd (1965) 112 CLR 537 – discussed Blue Paraffin Trade Mark [1977] RPC 473 – cited Nor-Am Chem. Co. v OM Scott & Sons Co, 44 USPQ 2d (BNA) 1316 – discussed Philips Electronics NV v Remington Consumer Products (1997) 40 IPR 279 – referred to British Sugar Plc v James Robertson & Sons Ltd [1996] RPC 281 – referred to TGI Fridays Australia Pty Ltd v TGI Friday's Inc (2000) 100 FCR 358 – cited Re Owens-Corning Fiberglas Corporation 774 F 2d 1116 (1985) – considered Campbell Soup Co v Amrour & Co 138 F 2d 4 (7th Cir 1950) – discussed Genetics Institute Inc. v Kirin-Amgen Inc. (No.3) (1998) 41 IPR 325 – referred to Merck & Co. Inc. v Sankyo Co. Ltd (1992) 23 IPR 415 – referred to PHILMAC PTY LIMITED (ACN 007 873 047) v THE REGISTRAR OF TRADE MARKS S 8 of 2001 MANSFIELD J 13 DECEMBER 2002 ADELAIDE