Federal Court of Australia
FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
Vodafone Pty Limited ABN 76 062 954 554 v Hutchison Telecommunications (Australia) Pty Limited ABN 15 003 677 227 [2005] FCA 1180 VODAPHONE PTY LIMITED ABN 76 062 954 554 & ANOR v HUTCHISON TELECOMMUNICATIONS (AUSTRALIA) PTY LIMITED ABN 15 003 677 227 NSD 178 OF 2005 EMMETT J 1 MARCH 2005 SYDNEY
IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY NSD178 OF 2005
BETWEEN: VODAFONE PTY LIMITED ABN 76 062 954 554
FIRST APPLICANT
VODAFONE NETWORK PTY LIMITED ABN 31 081 918 461
SECOND APPLICANT
AND: HUTCHISON TELECOMMUNICATIONS (AUSTRALIA) PTY LIMITED ABN 15 003 677 227
RESPONDENT
JUDGE: EMMETT J
DATE OF ORDER: 1 MARCH 2005
WHERE MADE: SYDNEY
BY CONSENT AND WITHOUT ADMISSIONS, THE RESPONDENT UNDERTAKES TO THE COURT THAT: 1. Unless in the context in which the question, statement or representation is made, the question, statement or representation is true and is not misleading or deceptive, the Respondent shall not use the following questions, statements or representations, or questions, statements or representations in substantially similar form in the course of any advertising or promotion including television, radio, print, website or online material, statements to or interviews with the press concerning its 9c / 30 seconds Orange Prepaid product which was launched on or around 1 February 2005 (the Current Prepaid Product): a) that the Current Prepaid Product is "70% cheaper than Vodafone Night-Talker Prepay"; b) that the Current Prepaid Product is 70% cheaper than Vodafone; c) that "Vodafone Night Talker Prepay is 70% more" than the Current Prepaid Product; d) that Vodafone is 70% more expensive than the Current Prepaid Product; and e) the question "why pay 50% more for prepaid calls?" 1. The Respondent will not publish the report by PhoneChoice.com.au Pty Limited dated January 2005 entitled "Orange Prepaid Call Rates Key Findings" (the PhoneChoice Report) or use any representation referring to or relating to the PhoneChoice Report in the course of any advertising or promotion including television, radio, print, website or online material, statements to or interviews with the press concerning its products. 1. The Respondent shall not use the statement "lowest prepaid call rate" in the course of any advertising or promotion of the Current Prepaid Product including television, radio, print, website or online material, statements to or interviews with the press without: a) indicating with sufficient prominence in the main body of any material and in proximity to the statement that: i) the Current Prepaid Product rate applies only to calls originating from within Orange's network areas (unless the Respondent subsequently reduces the roaming surcharge in relation to the Current Prepaid Product so that no such qualification is required); and ii) in order to determine the best mobile phone product for their needs, consumers should compare the Current Prepaid Product against all aspects of the prepaid products offered by other network providers. b) further indicating that outside Orange's network areas a specified roaming surcharge or specified different call rate applies (unless the Respondent subsequently does not levy a roaming surcharge or charge a different call rate outside Orange network areas in relation to the Current Prepaid Product). For the avoidance of doubt, the Applicants acknowledge that this undertaking does not apply to the statement "one of the lowest prepaid call rates" if this statement is true and is not otherwise misleading or deceptive. 1. In any advertising or promotion including television, radio, print, website or online material, statements to or interviews with the press in relation to the Current Prepaid Product or the Orange Talk 10, 9CentTalk 18, 9CentTalk 28, 9CentTalk 48, 9CentTalk 88 post paid plans, all of which were launched on or around 1 February 2005 (the Current Plans), the Respondent shall not use the statements: "9c per 30 seconds" or any statement which specifies a call rate "flat rate all day, every day" "all day every day rate" (the Rate Statements) or statements in substantially similar form without: a) indicating with sufficient prominence in the main body of any material and in proximity to the Rate Statement that: i) a 25c flagfall applies (unless the Respondent subsequently does not levy a flagfall in relation to the Current Prepaid Product or the Current Plans); and ii) the rate applies only to calls originating from within Orange's network areas (unless the Respondent subsequently does not levy a roaming surcharge in relation to the Current Prepaid Product or the Current Plans), b) further indicating that: i) outside Orange's network areas a specified roaming surcharge or specified different call rate applies (unless the Respondent subsequently does not levy a roaming surcharge or charge a different call rate outside Orange network areas in relation to the Current Prepaid Product or the Current Plans); and ii) the rate excludes international calls (other than to UK, USA, NZ and Canada) and some premium Australian numbers OR that the rate applies to calls made to Australian landlines and mobiles OR that the rate applies to standard calls OR that the rate applies to national calls (unless the Respondent subsequently includes all international calls and/or premium Australian numbers in its standard call rate for the Current Prepaid Product or the Current Plans). THE COURT NOTES THAT: 1. The undertakings referred to in paragraphs 1, 2, 3 and 4 do not apply to: a) advertisements in the form annexed to these Orders and marked "A" only to the extent that they are published in the Sydney Daily Telegraph and the Melbourne Herald Sun on or before 2 March 2005; b) advertisements in the form annexed to these Orders and marked "B" only to the extent that they are used in direct marketing campaigns for new and existing customers up to 18 April 2005; c) advertisements in the form annexed to these Orders and marked "C" only to the extent that they are used as part of a direct marketing campaign to households in Sydney up to 5 March 2005; d) advertisements in the form annexed to these Orders and marked "D" and "E" only to the extent that they are used as part of a direct marketing campaign to households in Melbourne up to 5 March 2005; e) brochures in the form annexed to these Orders and marked "F" only to the extent that they are made available to consumers via retail outlets up to 22 April 2005, noting the Respondent will use reasonable endeavours to remove such Brochures prior to that date. BY CONSENT, THE COURT ORDERS THAT: 1. The Court grants leave to the Applicants to file and serve a Notice of Discontinuance within 2 days of the date of these orders. 1. Order 1 of the orders made by His Honour Justice Hely on 10 February 2005 be vacated. 1. The hearing date of 28 February 2005 be vacated. Note: Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules.
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