AMI Australia Holdings Pty Limited v Bade Medical Institute (Aust.) Pty Limited (No 2) [2009] FCA 1437

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

AMI Australia Holdings Pty Limited v Bade Medical Institute (Aust.) Pty Limited (No 2) [2009] FCA 1437

TRADE PRACTICES — misleading or deceptive conduct — representation as to approval or affiliation — relevance of intent — loss or damage — a person who has aided or abetted contravention — knowledge — differences to the tort of passing off TRADE MARKS — function of a trade mark — deceptively similar — substantially identical PASSING OFF — protection of applicant's property — elements of the cause of action — relevance of intent — effect of a disclaimer — liability of directors as joint tortfeasors

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE — interlocutory orders as an admission of all facts — construction of order made — withdrawal of an admission

Held:Application allowed. Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) ss 47A, 51A Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) ss 17, 20, 120 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ss 52, 53(a), (aa), (c), (d), 75B, 82 Federal Court Regulations 2004 (Cth) regs 7, 11 Federal Court Rules O 11 r 10, O 13 r 2, O 35 rr 2, 7

10th Cantanae Pty Ltd v Shoshana Pty Ltd (1987) 79 ALR 299, referred to Allen Manufacturing Co Pty Ltd v McCallum & Co Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1838, 53 IPR 400, cited AMI Australia Holdings Pty Limited v Bade Medical Institute (Aust) Pty Limited [2008] FCA 1783, referred to Anheuser-Busch Inc v Budejovicky Budvar [2002] FCA 390, 56 IPR 182, applied The Architects (Australia) Pty Ltd v Witty Consultants Pty Ltd [2002] QSC 139, applied Ardelle v Spastic Society of Victoria Ltd [2001] FCA 220, cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Chen [2003] FCA 897, 132 FCR 309, cited Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Francis [2004] FCA 487, 142 FCR 1, applied Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Wizard Mortgage Corporation Limited [2002] FCA 1317,(2002) ATPR 41-903, referred to Australian Woollen Mills Ltd v FS Walton & Co Ltd (1937) 58 CLR 641, applied Baxter v Obacelo Pty Limited [2001] HCA 66, 205 CLR 635, cited Betta Foods Australia Pty Ltd v Betta Fruit Bars Pty Ltd (1998) 41 IPR 347, applied Bing! Software Pty Ltd v Bing Technologies Pty Ltd (No 1) [2008] FCA 1760, 79 IPR 454, applied CA Henschke & Co v Rosemount Estates Pty Ltd [2000] FCA 1539, 52 IPR 42, applied Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd v Darrell Lea Chocolate Shops Pty Ltd [2007] FCAFC 70, 159 FCR 397, cited Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd v Pub Squash Co Pty Ltd [1980] 2 NSWLR 851, cited Campomar Sociedad Limitada v Nike International Limited [2000] HCA 12, 202 CLR 45, applied Cash Converters Pty Ltd v Tallut Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 939, (2005) ATPR 42-074, cited Chase Manhattan Overseas Corporation v Chase Corporation Ltd (1986) 12 FCR 375, cited Coca-Cola Co v All-Fect Distributors Ltd [1999] FCA 1721, 96 FCR 107, cited ConAgra Inc v McCain Foods (Aust) Pty Ltd (1992) 33 FCR 302, applied Cooper v Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd [2006] FCAFC 187, 156 FCR 380, discussed CSR Ltd v Resource Capital Australia Pty Ltd [2003] FCA 279, 128 FCR 408, applied Dodds Family Investments Pty Ltd v Lane Industries Pty Ltd (1993) 26 IPR 261, cited Domain Names Australia Pty Ltd v .au Domain Administration Ltd [2004] FCAFC 247, 139 FCR 215, cited E & J Gallo Winery v Lion Nathan Australia Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 934, 77 IPR 69, cited E & J Gallo Winery v Lion Nathan Australia Pty Ltd [2009] FCAFC 27, 175 FCR 386, cited E & J Gallo Winery v Lion Nathan Australia Pty Ltd [2009] HCATrans 180, referred to Equity Access Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation (1989) 16 IPR 431, cited Erven Warnink BV v J Townend & Sons (Hull) Ltd [1979] AC 731, applied GEC Marconi Systems Pty Ltd (t/as Easams Australia) v BHP Information Technology Pty Ltd [2003] FCA 688, 201 ALR 55 Ghazal v Government Insurance Office of New South Wales (1992) 29 NSWLR 336, cited Global Brand Marketing Inc v YD Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 605, 76 IPR 161, cited Hanave Pty Limited v LFOT Pty Ltd (formerly Jagar Products Pty Ltd) (in liq) [2003] FCA 1154, cited HK Frost Holdings Pty Ltd (in liq) v Darvall McCutcheon (a firm) [1999] FCA 795, applied Hornsby Building Information Centre Pty Ltd v Sydney Building Information Centre Ltd (1978) 140 CLR 216, referred to ICT Pty Ltd v Sea Containers Ltd [2006] NSWSC 1280, referred to Interlego AG v Croner Trading Pty Ltd (1992) 39 FCR 348, cited Johnson Matthey (Aust) Ltd v Dascorp Pty Ltd [2003] VSC 291, 9 VR 171, cited Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298, cited LED Technologies Pty Ltd v Elecspess Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 1941, 80 IPR 85, referred to Londish v Gulf Pacific Pty Ltd (1993) 45 FCR 128, applied Louis Vuitton Malletier SA v Toea Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 1443, 156 FCR 158, referred to Macquarie Bank Ltd v Seagle [2008] FCA 1417, 79 IPR 72, applied Mark Foys Pty Ltd v TVSN (Pacific) Ltd [2000] FCA 1626, 104 FCR 61, cited McDonald's Systems of Australia Pty Ltd v McWilliams Wines Pty Ltd (1979) 28 ALR 236, considered Medical Benefits Fund of Australia Ltd v Cassidy [2003] FCAFC 289, 135 FCR 1, discussed Microsoft Corporation v Auschina Polaris Pty Ltd (1996) 71 FCR 231, cited Moorgate Tobacco Co Ltd v Philip Morris Ltd (No 2) (1984) 156 CLR 414, cited Namol Pty Ltd v A W Baulderstone Pty Ltd (No 2) (1993) 47 FCR 388, applied Osgaig Pty Ltd v Ajisen (Melbourne) Pty Ltd [2004] FCA 1394, 213 ALR 153, applied Pacific Publications Pty Ltd v Next Publishing Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 625, 222 ALR 127, cited Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty Ltd v Puxu Pty Ltd (1982) 149 CLR 191, cited Performing Right Society Ltd v Ciryl Theatrical Syndicate Ltd [1924] 1 KB 1, discussed In re Powell's Trade-Mark [1893] 2 Ch 388, cited Quinlivan v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2004] FCA 175, 160 FCR 1, applied R & C Products Pty Ltd v SC Johnson & Sons Pty Ltd (1993) 42 FCR 188, applied Readymix Holdings International Pty Ltd v Wieland Process Equipment Pty Ltd (No 2) [2008] FCA 1480, referred to Registrar of Trade Marks v Woolworths Ltd [1999] FCA 1020, 93 FCR 365, applied Rosebanner Pty Ltd v EnergyAustralia [2009] NSWSC 43, 223 FLR 406, cited RPS v The Queen [2000] HCA 3, 199 CLR 620, applied SAP Australia Pty Ltd v Sapient Australia Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 1821, 169 ALR 1, applied Select Personnel Pty Ltd v Morgan & Banks Pty Ltd (1998) 12 IPR 167, cited Shell Company of Australia Ltd v Esso Standard Oil (Australia) Ltd (1963) 109 CLR 407, cited Southern Cross Refrigerating Co v Toowoomba Foundry Pty Ltd (1954) 91 CLR 592, applied Star Industrial Company Ltd v Yap Kwee Kor [1976] FSR 256, applied State Bank of NSW Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (1995) 62 FCR 371, cited Taco Co of Australia Inc v Taco Bell Pty Ltd (1982) 42 ALR 177, applied TEC & Tomas (Australia) Pty Ltd v Matsumiya Computer Company Pty Ltd (1984) 1 FCR 28, applied Thompson v Australian Capital Television Pty Limited (1996) 186 CLR 574, applied Thomson Australian Holdings Pty Ltd v The Trade Practices Commission (1981) 148 CLR 150, distinguished Totalizator Agency Board v Turf News Pty Ltd [1967] VR 605, cited TS & B Retail Systems Pty Ltd v 3Fold Resources Pty Ltd (No 3) [2007] FCA 151, 158 FCR 444, applied Turner v General Motors (Australia) Pty Ltd (1929) 42 CLR 352, cited Ward Group Pty Ltd v Brodie & Stone plc [2005] FCA 471, 143 FCR 479, cited Wardley Australia Ltd v The State of Western Australia (1992) 175 CLR 514, cited WEA International Inc v Hanimex Corporation Ltd (1987) 17 FCR 274, cited Whitaker v Commissioner of Taxation (1998) 82 FCR 261, cited Wingate Marketing Pty Ltd v Levi Strauss & Co (1994) 49 FCR 89, cited Yorke v Lucas (1985) 158 CLR 661, discussed