Council of the City of Sydney v Goldspar Pty Limited [2004] FCA 568

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Council of the City of Sydney v Goldspar Pty Limited [2004] FCA 568 CONTRACTS – pre-contractual negotiations – contract for supply of multi-function street poles to Council – whether pre-contractual negotiations establish grounds for rectification – whether conduct in the course of pre-contractual negotiations unconscionable – whether pre-contractual conduct misleading or deceptive TRADE – restraint of – contract for supply of multi-function street poles to Council – contractual term prohibiting use of intellectual property after termination – whether contractual term a restraint of trade – whether any restraint of trade reasonable as between the parties COPYRIGHT – contract for supply of multi-function street poles to Council – assignment of copyright in pole designs to Council – whether manufacture and supply of poles to third parties constituted breach of copyright – whether drawings substantially reproducing copyright designs constituted breach of copyright TRADE PRACTICES – publications claiming intellectual property in design of poles – whether publication of notice misleading or deceptive – whether representations in notice false or misleading TRADE PRACTICES – accessory liability – misleading and deceptive claims of intellectual property in design of poles by company – whether involvement of managing director in distribution established accessory liability in circumstances of the case

Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), ss 52, 53, 75B

Australian Capital Territory v Munday (2000) 99 FCR 72 cited Avtex Airservices Pty Ltd v Bartsch (1992) 107 ALR 539 considered Bartsch v Avtex Airservices Pty Ltd (unreported,Federal Court of Australia, Gummow, French and Heerey JJ, 27 August 1993) considered Bowler v Hilda Pty Ltd (1998) 80 FCR 191 cited Butcher v Lachlan Elder Realty Pty Ltd (2002) 55 NSWLR 558 cited Council of the City of Sydney v Goldspar Australia Pty Limited [2002] FCA 1064 related Council of the City of Sydney v Goldspar Pty Limited (No 2) [2002] FCA 1268 related Esso Petroleum Co Ltd v Harper's Garage (Stourport) Ltd [1968] AC 269 referred to Heydon v NRMA Ltd (2000)51 NSWLR 1 cited ICT Pty Ltd v Sea Containers Ltd (1995) 39 NSWLR 640 cited John G Glass Real Estate Pty Ltd v Karawi Constructions Pty Ltd (1993) ATPR 41‑249 cited Maggbury Pty Ltd v Hafele Australia Pty Ltd (2001) 210 CLR 181 considered Muscat v Le (2003) 204 ALR 335 cited Peters (WA) Ltd v Petersville Ltd (2001) 205 CLR 126 considered Pukallus v Cameron (1982) 180 CLR 447 applied Reiffel v ACN 075 839 226 Ltd [2003] FCA 194; 45 ACSR 67; 21 ACLC 469 cited Rural Press Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2002) 118 FCR 236 applied Rural Press Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2003) 203 ALR 217, 78 ALJR 274 applied Sheldon v Metrokane [2004] FCA 19 cited Tamawood Limited v Henley Arch Pty Ltd [2004] FCAFC 78 applied Yorke v Lucas (1985) 158 CLR 661 applied