Pacific Publications Pty Limited v Next Publishing Pty Limited [2005] FCA 625

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Pacific Publications Pty Limited v Next Publishing Pty Limited [2005] FCA 625 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – misleading or deceptive conduct – passing off – tween girl magazines – appellant published "Total Girl" magazine – appellant published a one-off "Girl Power Issue" and "Girl Power Poster Book" – respondent commenced publication and distribution of "Girl Power" magazine – whether applicant had acquired a substantial reputation in the cover and internal elements of "Total Girl" – whether applicant had acquired a substantial reputation in the expression "Girl Power" – similarities between cover and internal elements of the magazines – allegation that these similarities create a misleading impression in the minds tweens and purchasers of the magazines that there is an association between the publishers of the two magazines – discussion of classes of persons alleged to be misled or deceived – whether respondent was aware of, or intended to, copy the format used in "Total Girl" – whether sufficient similarity exists between the two magazines to conclude that there has been any copying or misleading or deceptive conduct – comparison with other tween girl magazines EVIDENCE – rule in Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 – strengthening of adverse inferences by failure to call witnesses – whether any adverse inferences arise

Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 52, 53

Erven Warnink BV v JW Townsend & Sons (Hull) Ltd [1979] AC 731 cited Reckitt & Coleman Products v Borden Inc (1990) 1 WLR 491 cited AG Spalding & Bros v AW Gamage Ltd (1915) 32 RPC 273 cited Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd v Pub Squash Co Pty Ltd [1981] RPC 429 cited Annand & Thompson Pty Ltd v Trade Practices Commission (1979) 40 FLR 165 referred to CRW Pty Limited v Sneddon (1972) AR (NSW) 17 referred to Moorgate Tobacco Co Limited v Philip Morris Limited & Anor (No 2) (1984) 156 CLR 414 referred to Campomar Sociedad Limitada v Nike International Limited (2000) 202 CLR 45 applied Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty Ltd v Puxu Pty Ltd (1982) 149 CLR 191 referred to Tobacco Institute of Australia Limited v Australian Federation of Consumer Organisations Inc (1992) 38 FCR 1 applied Pacific Dunlop Ltd v Hogan & Ors (1989) 23 FCR 553 considered R & C Products Pty Ltd trading as Samuel Taylor v S C Johnson & Sons Pty Ltd (1993) 113 ALR 487 cited Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation v The South Australian Brewing Co Ltd (1996) 66 FCR 451 cited Energizer Australia Pty Limited v Gillette Australia Pty Limited (2001) 189 ALR 480 cited Seven Network Ltd v News Interactive Pty Ltd (2004) 63 IPR 28 cited Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 referred to Pacific Publications Pty Limited v IPC Media Pty Ltd (2003) AIPC 91-869 referred to Australian Woollen Knitting Mills Ltd v FS Walton & Co Ltd (1937) 58 CLR 641 cited Kettle Chip Co Pty Ltd v Apand Pty Ltd (1993) 46 FCR 152 cited Children's Television Workshop Inc v Woolworths (NSW) Ltd (1981) 1 NSWLR 273 discussed Topps Co Inc v Tom Hannah (Agencies) Limited [1999] Scot CS 285 discussed