Comite Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne v Powell [2015] FCA 1110

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne v Powell [2015] FCA 1110 Citation: Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de Champagne v Powell [2015] FCA 1110

Parties: COMITÉ INTERPROFESSIONNEL DU VIN DE CHAMPAGNE v RACHEL JAYNE POWELL

File number: VID 1373 of 2013

Judge: BEACH J

Date of judgment: 20 October 2015

Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – Champagne wines and non-Champagne sparkling wines – wine education and events business – use of business name and persona "Champagne Jayne" – internet and social media – reference to and promotion of Champagne wines and sparkling wines – meaning of Champagne – French controlled appellation of origin – alleged contraventions of ss 18 and 29 of the Australian Consumer Law – alleged misleading or deceptive conduct and false representations – whether difference between Champagne wines and sparkling wines made clear – whether sparkling wines represented as Champagne wines – whether representation of affiliation with Champagne sector – identification of relevant class – whether secondary meaning of Champagne – contraventions established in part TRADE AND COMMERCE – Australian Grape and Wine Authority Act 2013 (Cth) – bilateral wine-trading agreement between Australia and European Community – protection of Champagne as registered geographical indication – alleged offences under ss 40C and 40E – promotion of sparkling wines – whether sparkling wines advertised for sale or sold – no offence established

Legislation: Australian Grape and Wine Authority Act 2013 (Cth) ss 4, 5C, 40A, 40C, 40D, 40E, 40F, 40K, 44AB, Part VIB Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation Amendment Act 1993 (Cth) s 17 Australian Wine and Brandy Corporation Amendment Act 2010 (Cth) s 37 of Sch 1 Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Sch 2, ss 18, 29 of Sch 2 Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act 2010 (Cth) Sch 4 Grape and Wine Legislation Amendment (Australian Grape and Wine Authority) Act 2013 (Cth) Sch 1