Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Domain Name Corp Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 1269

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Domain Name Corp Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 1269 File number: WAD 383 of 2017

Judge: MCKERRACHER J

Date of judgment: 22 August 2018

Catchwords: CONSUMER LAW – misleading or deceptive conduct – respondents sent unsolicited notices to businesses offering registration of a domain name substantially equivalent to their existing domain name - where the parties filed a Statement of Agreed Facts and Admissions jointly – where the parties agreed to the orders as to the pecuniary penalties, injunctions and disqualification orders to be imposed on the respondents – where the parties disagreed as to the declaratory orders to be imposed – appropriateness of the Court endorsing the agreed upon orders – whether the Court should make the declaratory relief sought by the ACCC, but opposed by the respondent

Legislation: Australian Consumer Law ss 18, 29(1)(g), 29(1)(l), 2224, 224(1)(e), 224(2), 224(3) item 2, 232, 232(1), 232(4), 232(4)(a), 239, 246, 248, 248(1)(a)(ii), 248(1)(b) Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth) Sch 2 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 191, 191(2)(b) Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 21 Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 80

Cases cited: .au Domain Administration Ltd v Domain Names Australia Pty Ltd (2004) 207 ALR 521 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd (2015) 327 ALR 540 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Dataline.Net.Au Pty Ltd (2007) 161 FCR 513 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v EDirect Pty Ltd (in liq) (2012) 206 FCR 160 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Marksun Australia Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 695 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Reckitt Benckiser (Australia) Pty Ltd (2016) 340 ALR 25 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Singtel Optus Pty Ltd (No 4) (2011) 282 ALR 246 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v SMS Global Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 855 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v TPG Internet Pty Ltd (2013) 250 CLR 640 Australian Securities & Investments Commission v Adler (2002) 42 ACSR 80 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Cassimatis (No 9) [2018] FCA 385 Clean Energy Regulator v MT Solar Pty Ltd [2013] FCA 205 Commissioner for Corporate Affairs (WA) v Ekamper (1987) 12 ACLR 519 Commonwealth v Director, Fair Work Building Industry Inspectorate (2015) 258 CLR 482 Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union v Cahill (2010) 269 ALR 1 Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria v Domain Register Pty Ltd [2017] FCA 1603 Forster v Jododex (1972) 127 CLR 421 Google Inc v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2013) 249 CLR 435 Registrar of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Corporations v Matcham (No 2) (2014) 97 ACSR 412 Rich v Australian Securities & Investments Commission (2004) 220 CLR 129 Singtel Optus Pty Ltd v Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (2012) 287 ALR 249 Trade Practices Commission v CSR Ltd (1991) ATPR 41-076