Beecham Group PLC v Colgate-Palmolive Pty Ltd [2004] FCA 1335

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Beecham Group PLC v Colgate-Palmolive Pty Ltd [2004] FCA 1335 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - Trademarks - Infringement - Interlocutory Injunction - Application to restrain respondent from using a mark resembling the applicants' registered trade marks - Applicants proprietors of MACLEANS trade marks - Respondents marketing "Colgate MAXCLEAN" power toothbrush - Serious question to be tried - "MAXCLEAN" deceptively similar to "MACLEANS" - Similarities such that consumers likely to have reasonable doubt as to whether the two products come from the same source - Substantial visual and aural similarity - Balance of convenience - Principle damage dilution of applicants' trade marks - Use of name damaging applicants' reputation and goodwill - Damages an inadequate remedy - Respondent aware of the similarity between "MAXCLEAN" and the MACLEANS marks - Interlocutory injunction granted - (CTH) Trade Marks Act 1955 s 120

Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) s120 Johnson & Johnson Australia Pty Limited v Sterling Pharmaceuticals Pty Limited (1991) 30 FCR 326 approved Mark Foys Limited v Davies Coop & Co Limited (Tub Happy Case) (1956) 95 CLR 190 approved Shell Co of Australia Limited v Esso Standard Oil (1963) 109 CLR 407 approved Carnival Cruise Lines Inc v Sitmar Cruises Limited (1994) 31 IPR 375 cited Australian Woollen Mills Limited v F S Walton & Co Limited (1937) 58 CLR 641 approved Wingate Marketing Pty Limited v Levi Strauss & Co (1994) 49 FCR 89 referred to Polaroid Corporation v Sole N Pty Limited [1981] 1 NSWLR 491 approved British Petroleum Co Ltd v European Petroleum Distributors Ltd [1968] RPC 54 approved Southern Cross Refrigerating Co v Toowoomba Foundry Pty Ltd (1954) 91 CLR 592 approved Aristoc Limited v Rysta Limited [1945] AC 68 discussed Castlemaine Tooheys Limited v South Australia (1986) 161 CLR 148 cited Patrick Stevedores Operations No 2 Pty Limited v Maritime Union of Australia (No 3) (1998) 195 CLR 1 cited Australian Guarantee Corp Limited v Sydney Guarantee Corp Limited (1951) 51 SRNSW 166 applied Telmark Teleproducts (Australia) Pty Ltd v Coles Myer Ltd (1988) 84 ALR 437 applied Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation v The South Australian Brewery Co Ltd (1996) 66 FCR 451 cited Parfums Christian Dior (Australia) Pty Limited v Dimmey's Stores Pty Ltd (1997) 39 IPR 349 referred to Beecham Group Limited v Bristol Laboratories Pty Limited (1968) 118 CLR 618 referred to Tidy Tea Limited & Lyons Tetley Limited v Unilever Australia Limited (1995) 32 IPR 405 referred to Plimpton v Spiller [1876] 4 Ch D 286 approved BEECHAM GROUP PLC AND GLAXOSMITHKLINE AUSTRALIA PTY LTD v COLGATE-PALMOLIVE PTY LTD NSD1425 OF 2004 TAMBERLIN J SYDNEY 15 OCTOBER 2004