Shape Shopfitters Pty Ltd v Shape Australia Pty Ltd (No 3) [2017] FCA 865

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Shape Shopfitters Pty Ltd v Shape Australia Pty Ltd (No 3) [2017] FCA 865 File number: VID 953 of 2015

Judge: MORTIMER J

Date of judgment: 1 August 2017

Catchwords: COMPETITION– misleading or deceptive conduct – ss 18 and 29(1)(g) and (h) of Australian Consumer Law – identification of the appropriate class of persons to whom the alleged misrepresentation was made – identification of nature of misrepresentation – whether participants in commercial construction industry likely to be led into error by respondent's conduct – application dismissed TORTS– passing off – identification of applicant's commercial reputation – whether respondent's business activities using the name "Shape" threaten to damage or otherwise adversely affect that reputation and goodwill – application dismissed TRADE MARKS – claim that respondent's mark is "deceptively similar" to the registered trade mark of the applicant – identification of relevant class of persons – whether commercial construction industry is "specialised" – discussion of distinction between "wonderment" and being led into "error" – application dismissed

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Sch 2, Australian Consumer Law, ss 18, 29 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), s 190 Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth), ss 6, 70, 120, 122 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth), s52

Cases cited: .au Domain Administration Ltd v Domain Names Australia Pty Ltd [2004] FCA 424; 207 ALR 521; 61 IPR 81 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v TPG Internet Pty Ltd [2013] HCA 54; 250 CLR 640 Bing! Software v Bing Technologies [2009] FCAFC 131; 180 FCR 191 Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd v Darrell Lea Chocolate Shops Pty Ltd [2007] FCAFC 70; 159 FCR 397 Campbell v Backoffice Investments Pty Ltd [2009] HCA 25; 238 CLR 304 Campomar Sociedad, Limitada v Nike International Limited [2000] HCA 12; 202 CLR 45 Chase Manhattan Overseas Corporation v Chase Corporation Ltd (1986) 12 FCR 375 Children's Televisions Workshop Inc v Woolworths (NSW) Ltd [1981] 1 NSWLR 273 ConAgra Inc v McCain Foods (Aust) Pty Ltd (1992) 33 FCR 302 Concrete Constructions (NSW) Pty Ltd v Nelson [1990] HCA 17; 169 CLR 594 Crazy Ron's Communications Pty Ltd v Mobileworld Communications Pty Ltd [2004] FCAFC 196; 209 ALR 1; 61 IPR 212 Domain Names Australia Pty Ltd v .au Domain Administration Ltd [2004] FCAFC 247; 139 FCR 215 Draper v Trist [1939] 3 All ER 513 Elders Trustee & Executor Co Ltd v EG Reeves Pty Ltd (1987) 78 ALR 193 Erven Warnink Besloten Vennootschap v Townend & Sons (Hull) Ltd [1979] 2 All ER 927; [1979] AC 731 Flexopack S.A. Plastics Industry v Flexopack Australia Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 235; 118 IPR 239 General Electric Co (of USA) v General Electric Co Ltd [1973] RPC 297 at 321; [1972] 1 WLR 729 Hansen Beverage Company v Bickfords (Australia) Pty Ltd [2008] FCAFC 181; 171 FCR 579 Harrods Limited v R Harrod Limited (1924) 41 RPC 74 Interlego AG v Croner Trading Pty Ltd [1992] FCA 992; 39 FCR 348 Jafferjee v Scarlett [1937] HCA 36; 57 CLR 115 Knight v Beyond Properties Pty Ltd [2007] FCAFC 170; 242 ALR 586 Lego Australia Pty Ltd v Paul's (Merchants) Pty Ltd [1982] FCA 140; 60 FLR 465 McWilliam's Wines Pty Ltd v McDonald's System of Australia Pty Ltd [1980] FCA 159; 33 ALR 394 MID Sydney Pty Ltd v Australian Tourism Co Ltd (1998) 90 FCR 236 Nutrientwater Pty Ltd v Baco Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 2; 265 ALR 140 Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty Ltd v Puxu Pty Ltd [1982] HCA 44; 149 CLR 191 Peter Bodum A/S v DKSH Australia Pty Ltd [2011] FCAFC 98; 280 ALR 639 Polo Textile Industries Pty Limited v Domestic Textile Corporation Pty Limited (1993) 42 FCR 227; 114 ALR 157 Reckitt & Colman Products Ltd v Borden Inc [1990] RPC 341 Registrar of Trade Marks v Woolworths Ltd [1999] FCA 1020; 93 FCR 365 SAP Australia Pty Ltd v Sapient Australia Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 1821; 169 ALR 1 Saville Perfumery Ld v June Perfect Ld (1941) 58 RPC 147 Shape Shopfitters Pty Ltd v Shape Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2017] FCA 474 Shape Shopfitters Pty Ltd v Shape Australia Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 610 Southern Cross Refrigeration Company v Toowoomba Foundry Pty Ltd (1954) 91 CLR 592 Symbion Pharmacy Services Pty Ltd v ldameneo (No 789) Ltd [2011] FCA 389; 91 IPR 547 Taco Co of Australia Inc v Taco Bell Pty Ltd (1982) 42 ALR 177 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation v The South Australian Brewery Co Ltd (1996) 66 FCR 451; 34 IPR 225 Vivo International Corp Pty Ltd v Tivo Inc [2012] FCAFC 159; 294 ALR 661 Wingate Marketing Pty Limited v Levi Strauss & Co (1994) 49 FCR 89