Allergan, Inc v Di Giacomo [2011] FCA 1540

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Allergan, Inc v Di Giacomo [2011] FCA 1540 Citation: Allergan, Inc v Di Giacomo [2011] FCA 1540

Appeal from: Opposition by Allergan Inc to registration of trade mark application 1270294 (Registrar of Trade Marks, 26 July 2011)

Parties: ALLERGAN, INC v MERILYN DI GIACOMO

File number: NSD 1364 of 2011

Judge: STONE J

Date of judgment: 30 November 2011

Date of publication of reasons: 30 January 2012

Catchwords: TRADE MARKS – appeal from a decision of the Registrar of Trade Marks pursuant to s 56 Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) – Registrar dismissed applicant's notice of opposition to registration of "No-Tox" mark – s 44 Trade Marks Act – whether mark substantially identical with or deceptively similar to applicant's registered "Botox" mark – s 60 Trade Marks Act – likelihood of deception or confusion with applicant's mark having regard to reputation of Botox in Australia – principles relevant – whether real, tangible danger – tangible danger that consumers would view Botox and No-Tox products as complementary – visual and aural similarity of the words – opposition allowed

Legislation: Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) ss 27, 34, 44, 52, 56, 60, 215(6) Federal Court Rules 2001 O58 r4(2) and (2A) Trade Marks Regulations 1995 (Cth), Schedule 1

Cases cited: Chocolaterie Guylian NV v Registrar of Trade Marks (2009) 180 FCR 60 Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc v Goulimis (2008) 253 ALR 76 Lomas v Winton Shire Council (2003) AIPC 91-83 McCormick & Co Inc v McCormick (2000) 51 IPR 102 New England Biolabs Inc v F Hoffman-La-Roche AG (2004) 141 FCR 1 Pfizer Products Inc v Karam (2006) 237 ALR 787 Registrar of Trade Marks v Woolworths Ltd (1999) 93 FCR 365 Southern Cross Refrigerating Company v Toowoomba Foundry Pty Ltd (1954) 91 CLR 592 Sports Warehouse Inc v Fry Consulting Pty Ltd (2010) 186 FCR 519 Television Food Network, GP v Food Channel Network Pty Ltd (No 2) (2009) 80 IPR 314