Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v SMS Global Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 855

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v SMS Global Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 855 Citation: Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v SMS Global Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 855

Parties: AUSTRALIAN COMPETITION AND CONSUMER COMMISSION v SMS GLOBAL PTY LTD and CARL BRYAN KRUMINS

File number: VID 1146 of 2010

Judge: MURPHY J

Date of judgment: 2 August 2011

Catchwords: TRADE PRACTICES – misleading or deceptive conduct – s 52 of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) – whether representations made on websites and in promotional brochure contravene s 53 (d) of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth). TRADE PRACTICES – relief – whether to make pecuniary penalty order pursuant to s 76E of Trade Practices Act (Cth) – size of pecuniary penalty – whether to grant declaration, injunction, corrective advertising, compliance program and publication order.

Legislation: Associations Incorporation Act 1987 (WA) Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) Telecommunications Act 1997 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) Trade Practices Amendment Act (No 1) 2010 (Cth) Trade Practices Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Act (No 2) 2010 (Cth)

Cases cited .au Domain Administration Ltd v Domain Names Australia Pty Ltd (2004) 207 ALR 521 ACCC v ABB Transmission and Distribution Limited (No 2) [2002] FCA 559; 190 ALR 169 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Commercial and General Publications (No 2) [2002] FCA 1349 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dataline.net.au Pty Ltd (2007) 161 FCR 513 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dukemaster Pty Ltd [2009] FCA 682 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Global One Mobile Entertainment [2011] FCA 393 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Gourmet Goody's Family Restaurant Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 1216 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Harris Scarfe Australia [2009] FCA 54 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Hobie Cat Australasia [2008] FCA 402 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Ithaca Ice Works Pty Ltd [2000] FCA 997; ATPR 41-777 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Leahy Petroleum (No 3) [2005] FCA 265; 215 ALR 301 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Liquorland (Australia) Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 683; ATPR 42-070 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v MSY Technology Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 382 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Oobi Baby [2008] FCA 1488 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v On Clinic Australia Pty Ltd (1996) 35 IPR 635 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Panasonic Australia [2010] FCA 856; 269 ALR 622 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Powerballwin.com.au Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 378 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Rural Press Ltd [2001] FCA 1065; ATPR 41-833 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Real Estate Institute of Western Australia Inc (1999) 95 FCR 114 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Telstra Corporation Ltd [2010] FCA 790 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Telstra Corporation [2007] FCA 2058 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Telstra Corporation Limited [2007] FCA 1904; 244 ALR 470 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Universal Music Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2002] FCA 192; 201 ALR 618 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Virgin Mobile Australia Pty Ld (No 2) [2002] FCA 1548 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Visy Industries Holdings (No 3) [2007] FCA 1617; 244 ALR 673 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Yellow Page Marketing BV (No 2) [2011] FCA 352 Australian Ocean Line Pty Ltd v West Australian Newspapers Limited (1983) 47 ALR 497 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Z-Tek Computers Pty Ltd (1997) 78 FCR 197 Bridge Stockbrokers v Bridges (1984) 4 FCR 460 BMW Australia Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2004] FCAFC 167; 207 ALR 452 Concrete Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd v Nelson (1990) 169 CLR 594 Gollel Holdings Pty Ltd v Kenneth Maurer Funerals Pty Ltd (1987) 9 IPR 109 Given v C V Holland (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1977) 15 ALR 439 Henjo Investments v Collins Marrickville (1988) 39 FCR 546 Hogan v Australian Crime Commission (2010) 240 CLR 651 Hogan v Australian Crime Commission (2009) 177 FCR 205 J McPhee and Son (Aust) Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission [2000] FCA 365; 172 ALR 532 Luxottica Retail Australia v Specsavers (No 2) [2010] FCA 644 Markarian v R (2005) 228 CLR 357 Medical Benefits Fund of Australia Ltd v Cassidy (2003) 135 FCR 1 Menhaden Pty Ltd v Citibank N.A. (1984) 1 FCR 542 Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59 Moss v Lowe Hunt & Partners Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 1181 NW Frozen Foods Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (1996) 71 FCR 285 Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty Ltd v Puxu Pty Ltd (1982) 149 CLR 191 Qantas Airways Ltd v Rolls-Royce PLC [2010] FCA 1481 Schneider Electric (Australia) Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2003) 127 FCR 170 Specsavers Pty Ltd v The Optical Superstores Pty Ltd (No 2) [2010] FCA 566 Tobacco Institute of Australia Ltd v Australian Federation of Consumer Organisation Inc (No 2) (1993) 41 FCR 89 Trade Practices Commission v Advance Bank Australia Ltd (1993) ATPR 41-229 Trade Practices Commission v Allied Mills Industries Pty Ltd and Others (No 5) (1981) 37 ALR 256 Trade Practices Commission v Bata Shoe Co of Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) (1980) 44 FLR 149 Trade Practices Commission v CSR Ltd [1990] FCA 762; (1991) ATPR 41-076 Trade Practices Commission v ICI Australia Operations Pty Ltd (1991) 105 ALR 115 Trade Practices Commission v Prestige Motors Pty Ltd [1994] FCA 874; ATPR 41-359 Trade Practices Commission v Stihl Chain Saws (Aust) Pty Ltd (1978) ATPR 40-091 Trade Practices Commission v TNT Australia Pty Limited (1995) ATPR 41-375 Yara Australia Pty Ltd v Burrup Holdings Ltd (No 2) [2010] FCA 1304