Acohs Pty Ltd v Ucorp Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 577

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Acohs Pty Ltd v Ucorp Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 577 Citation: Acohs Pty Ltd v Ucorp Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 577

Parties: ACOHS PTY LTD (ACN 009 572 187) v UCORP PTY LTD (ACN 062 768 094) and BERNARD BIALKOWER

File number: VID 873 of 2004

Judge: JESSUP J

Date of judgment: 10 June 2010

Catchwords: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – Copyright – Literary work – Originality – Source code generated by computer program – Whether original literary work – Whether work of human author – Whether work of authors in collaboration – Whether contribution of each author separate from that of others. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – Copyright – Literary work – Material Safety Data Sheet generated electronically from database each time viewed on computer – Whether constitutes original copyright work – Whether constitutes a compilation. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – Copyright – Material Safety Data Sheet – Data entered into electronic database by transcription – Whether new work thereby created original. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – Copyright – Whether an electronic database can be regarded as literary work – Whether data selected by applicant – Whether original work in nature of compilation. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – Copyright – Infringement of copyright – Reproduction – Material Safety Data Sheets required to be provided for hazardous substances and dangerous goods – Ready access required to be given – Copying contemplated by regulations – Electronic access contemplated – Where copyright subsists in Material Safety Data Sheets, whether reproduction implicitly licensed by law.