MacPhee v Peters Foods Australia Pty Limited (in liquidation) [2003] FCA 1528

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

MacPhee v Peters Foods Australia Pty Limited (in liquidation) [2003] FCA 1528 TRADE PRACTICES – advertising placard describing respondent's ice cream as 'Lemon Cheesecake' – whether misleading or deceptive conduct – placard to be viewed in context – need for applicant to show causal link between loss suffered and misleading conduct. PASSING OFF – whether respondent passed off its ice cream product as goods of the applicant – prerequisite of passing off action discussed. DESIGNS – cross claim that applicant's registered design be expunged from register – whether cross claimant required to establish it was a person aggrieved where applicant had brought proceedings infringement of registered design but later discontinued that proceedings – whether registered design was obvious adaptation of another article being an ice cream cone – whether design too general to be registered – whether design really a method of manufacture. Designs Act 1906 (Cth) s 4, s 17, s 25, s 30, s 32, s 39 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 52, s 53, s 82 C & H Engineering v F Klucznik & Sons Ltd [1992] FSR 421 cited Campomar Sociedad Limitada v Nike International Ltd (2000) 202 CLR 45 applied Christopher Tasker's Design Right References [2001] RPC 39 followed Conagra Inc v McCain Foods (Aust) Pty Ltd (1992) 33 FCR 302 cited Dart Industries Inc v Décor Corporation Pty Ltd (1989) 15 IPR 403 applied Ervin Warnick BV v J Townsend & Sons (Hull) Limited [1979] AC 731 cited Firmagroup Australia Pty Ltd v Byrne and Davidson Doors (Vic) Pty Ltd (1987) 180 CLR 483 followed In re Clarke's Registered Design (1986) 13 RPC 351 Malleys Limited v J W Tomlin Pty Ltd (1961) 180 CLR 120 followed March v Stramare (E & MH) Pty Ltd (1991) 171 CLR 506 applied Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty Ltd v Puxu Pty Ltd (1982) 149 CLR 191 applied Powell v Birmingham Vinegar Brewery Co Ltd [1894] AC 8 referred to Pugh v Riley Cycle Ltd [1912] 1 Ch 613 applied Qantas Airways Ltd v Cameron (1996) 66 FCR 246 referred to Simmons v Mathieson & Co Ltd (1911) 28 RPC 486 cited Supaproducts Pty Ltd v Alesevic & Ano [2003] FCA 1145 applied Taco Company of Australia Inc v Taco Bell Pty Ltd (1982) 42 ALR 177 applied Vieright Pty Ltd v Myer Stores Ltd (1995) 31 IPR 361 applied MICHAEL MACPHEE v PETERS FOODS AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED (IN LIQUIDATION) (ACN 000 249 132) N 212 OF 2002 HILL J SYDNEY 19 DECEMBER 2003