Gram Engineering Pty Ltd v Bluescope Steel Ltd [2013] FCA 508

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Gram Engineering Pty Ltd v Bluescope Steel Ltd [2013] FCA 508 Citation: Gram Engineering Pty Ltd v Bluescope Steel Ltd [2013] FCA 508

Parties: GRAM ENGINEERING PTY LTD ACN 002 193 311 v BLUESCOPE STEEL LIMITED ACN 000 011 058

File number: NSD 474 of 2011

Judge: JACOBSON J

Date of judgment: 31 May 2013

Catchwords: DESIGNS - validity - steel fencing panel - whether design "new or original" - essential features of design to be judged by "instructed eye" - whether design differed in immaterial details or in features commonly used in the relevant trade - whether obvious adaptation of analogous article DESIGNS - infringement - whether fraudulent or obvious imitation of registered design - where evidence was led that respondent referred to creating a "lookalike" of applicant's product - principles in determining infringement - whether applicant entitled to the design

Legislation: Designs Act 1906 (Cth) ss 17, 17(1)(a), 17(1)(b), 30(1)(a), 30(1)(c) Designs Act 2003 (Cth) ss 20(1), 150, 151(3), 156(3) Designs Amendment Act 1981 (Cth) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW)

Cases cited: Conrol Pty Ltd v Meco McCallum Pty Ltd (1997) 80 FCR 264 Conrol Pty Ltd v Meco McCallum Pty Ltd (1996) 34 IPR 517 D Sebel & Co Ltd v National Art Metal Co Pty Ltd (1965) 10 FLR 224 Dart Industries Inc v DÉcor Corporation Pty Ltd (1989) 15 IPR 403 Dover Ltd v NÜrnberger Celluloidwaren Fabrik GebrÜder Wolff [1910] 2 Ch 25 Dunlop Rubber Co Ltd v Golf Ball Developments Ltd (1931) 48 RPC 268 Firmagroup Australia Pty Ltd v Byrne & Davidson Doors (Vic) Pty Ltd (1986) 11 FCR 415; 67 ALR 29 Foggin v Lacey (2003) 57 IPR 225 Gardex Limited v Sorata Limited [1986] RPC 623 In re Read & Greswell's Design [1889] 42 Ch D 260 J W Tomlin Pty Ltd v Malleys Ltd (1960) 2 FLR 142; [1960] NSWR 454 LJ Fisher & Company Ltd v Fabtile Industries Pty Ltd (1978) 1A IPR 565 Lockwood Security Products Pty Ltd v Doric Products Pty Ltd (No 2) (2007) 235 CLR 173 Macrae Knitting Mills Ltd v Lowes Ltd (1936) 55 CLR 725 Malleys Ltd v JW Tomlin Pty Ltd (1961) 180 CLR 120 Mining Equipment Pty Ltd v Mining Supplies Australia Pty Ltd (2001) 52 IPR 513 Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co & 3M Australia Pty Ltd v Beiersdorf (Aust) Ltd (1980) 144 CLR 253 Monier Ltd v Metalwork Tiling Co of Australia Ltd (1984) 73 FLR 105 Moody v Tree (1892) 9 RPC 333 Olin Corporation v Super Cartridge Co Pty Ltd (1977) 180 CLR 236 Polyaire Pty Ltd v K-Aire Pty Ltd (2005) 221 CLR 287 RB Watson & Co Ltd v Smith Bros (Wirewares) Ltd (1963) RPC 147 Sigma Pharmaceuticals (Australia) Pty Ltd v Wyeth [2011] FCAFC 132 Turbo Tek Enterprises Inc v Sperling Enterprises Pty Ltd (1989) 23 FCR 331 Ullrich Aluminium Pty Ltd v Dias Aluminium Products Pty Ltd (2006) 153 FCR 437 Wanem Pty Ltd v Tekiela (1990) 19 IPR 435 Designs Law Review Committee, Report on the Law Relating to Designs (First Term of Reference, 1973) Lahore J, Lindgren K and Rothnie WA, Copyright and Designs (LexisNexis Butterworths, 2004) Ricketson S and Creswell C, The Law of Intellectual Property: Copyright, Designs and Confidential Information (Thomson Reuters, 2006)