Gold Peg International Pty Ltd v Kovan Engineering (Aust) Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 1521

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Gold Peg International Pty Ltd v Kovan Engineering (Aust) Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 1521 COPYRIGHT – ownership – manufacturing and assembly drawings – manufacturer employed author of drawings – whether there was an agreement for manufacture, and whether it included an express or implied term governing ownership of drawings, particularly future drawings – whether silence in conjunction with other circumstances constituted agreement to a term covering ownership of copyright drawings – whether an equitable owners of copyright entitled to legal assignment – estoppel. COPYRIGHT – assignment – authority of assignor to dispose of subsidiary company's copyright – efficacy of assignment. COPYRIGHT – infringement – whether a reproduction from a subsequent set of drawings could constitute copying and/or reproduction of substantial part of an earlier set of drawings – defence to copyright infringement - overlap between copyright and design production – 'industrial application' – need for 'system' or 'process' in the manufacture of relevant products. TRADE PRACTICES ACT – whether conduct contravened ss 52, 53(a), (c) and (d) – accessorial liability – whether same conduct constituted passing off. Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) ss 10(1), 13(1), 14(1), 21(3), 31(1), 33, 35(3), 36(1), 77, 77A, 196(3) Copyright Regulations 1969 (Cth) reg 17 Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) ss 128(1), 128(2), 129(3) Designs Act 2003 (Cth) s 46 Property Law Act 1958 (Vic) s 53(1) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 52, 53 75B Ancher, Mortlock, Murray & Woolley Pty Ltd v Hooker Homes Pty Ltd (1971) 2 NSWLR 278 referred to BP Refinery (Westernport) Pty Ltd v Hastings Shire Council (1977) 180 CLR 266 cited Byrne & Frew v Australian Airlines Limited (1995) 185 CLR 410 referred to Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd v Pub Squash Co Ltd [1981] RPC 429 referred to Campomar Sociedad Ltd v Nike International Ltd (2000) 202 CLR 45 referred to Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1982)149 CLR 337 applied ConAgra Inc v McCain Foods (Australia) Pty Ltd (1992) 23 IPR 193 referred to Eagle Homes Pty Ltd v Austec Homes Pty Ltd (1999) 87 FCR 415 followed Empirnall Holdings Pty Ltd v Machon Paull Partners Pty Ltd [1988] 14 NSWLR 523 followed Felthouse v Bindley (1862) 11 CB (NS) 869 referred to Glamagard Pty Ltd v Enderslea Productions Pty Ltd (1985) 1 NSWLR 138 referred to Gold Peg International Pty Ltd v Kovan Engineering (Aust) Pty Ltd [2002] FCA 910 cited Gold Peg International P/L v Kovan Engineering (Aust) Ltd [2004] FCA 1601 cited Greenfield Products Pty Ltd v Rover-Scott Boonar Ltd (1990) 17 IPR 417 referred to Hawkins v Clayton (1988) 164 CLR 539 referred to Hospital Products Ltd v United States Surgical Corporation (1984) 156 CLR 41 applied Hutchence v South Seas Bubble Co Pty Ltd (1986) 6 IPR 473 referred to Interlego AG v Croner Trading Pty Ltd (1992) 39 FCR 348 referred to Kevlacat Pty Ltd v Trailcraft Marine Pty Ltd (1987) 11 IPR 77 followed Murray v King (1984) 4 FCR 1 referred to Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty Ltd v Puxu Pty Ltd (1982) 149 CLR 191 cited Parramatta Design & Developments Pty Ltd v Concrete Pty Ltd [2005] 219 ALR 373 followed Press-Form Pty Ltd v Henderson's Ltd (1993) 40 FCR 274 followed Reckitt & Colman Products Ltd v Borden Inc (1990) 17 IPR 1 referred to R Griggs Group Ltd v Evans [2004] 31 FSR 673 followed Robin Ray v Classic FM Plc [1998] 25 FSR 622 referred to Royal British Bank v Turquand (1856) 119 ER 886 followed Safe Sport Australia Pty Ltd v Puma Australia Pty Ltd (1985) 4 IPR 120 followed Shacklady v Atkins (1994) 30 IPR 387 followed Skybase Nominees Pty Ltd v Fortuity Pty Ltd (1996) 36 IPR 529 followed Taco Company of Australia Inc v Taco Bell Pty Ltd (1982) 42 ALR 177 followed Tamawood Ltd v Henley Arch Pty Ltd (2004) 61 IPR 378 followed Wilson v Weiss Art Pty Ltd (1995) 31 IPR 432 referred to University of London Press Ltd v University Tutorial Press Ltd [1916] 2 Ch 601 referred to University of New South Wales v Moorhouse & Angus & Robertson (Publishers) Pty Ltd (1975) 133 CLR 1 referred to GOLD PEG INTERNATIONAL PTY LTD v KOVAN ENGINEERING (AUST) PTY LTD & JANIS ZAKIS & DIANNE MARGARET ZAKIS CRENNAN J 28 OCTOBER 2005 MELBOURNE