PDP Capital Pty Ltd v Grasshopper Ventures Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 1078

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

PDP Capital Pty Ltd v Grasshopper Ventures Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 1078 File number: NSD 1354 of 2018

Judge: MARKOVIC J

Date of judgment: 30 July 2020

Catchwords: TRADE MARKS – infringement claim pursuant to s 120 of the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) (Act) – claims for rectification of the Register pursuant to s 88(2)(a), relying on the grounds under ss 44, 58, 59 and 60, and s 88(2)(c) of the Act – claims for removal from the Register for non-use pursuant to s 92(4) and s 101 of the Act COMPETITION – misleading or deceptive conduct in contravention of s 18 and s 29 of the Australian Consumer Law – whether relevant reputation was established at the date of the impugned conduct – whether there was any relevant misrepresentation – application dismissed TORTS – passing off – whether relevant reputation was established at the date of the impugned conduct – whether there was any relevant misrepresentation – application dismissed

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Sch 2, ss 18, 29 Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth), ss 37AE, 37AF, 37AG, 37AJ Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth), ss 6, 7, 8, 10, 14, 17, 20, 27, 44, 58, 59, 60, 88, 89, 92, 100, 101, 120

Cases cited: Anchorage Capital Partners Pty Ltd v ACPA Pty Ltd (2018) 259 FCR 514 Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd v Vidtech Gaming Services Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 275; (2006) 68 IPR 229 Aston v Harlee Manufacturing Company (1960) 103 CLR 391 Austin Nichols & Company Inc v Lodestar Anstalt (No 1) (2012) 202 FCR 490 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Air New Zealand Ltd (No 4) [2012] FCA 1439 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Colgate-Palmolive Pty Ltd (No 4) [2017] FCA 1590; (2017) 353 ALR 460 Australian Education Union v Department of Education and Children's Services (2012) 248 CLR 1 Australian Woollen Mills Limited v FS Walton and Company Limited (1937) 58 CLR 641 Barton v Croner Trading Pty Ltd (1984) 3 FCR 95 Bauer Consumer Media Ltd v Evergreen Television Pty Ltd [2019] FCAFC 71; (2019) 367 ALR 393 Bing! Software v Bing Technologies (2009) 180 FCR 191 Bohemia Crystal Pty Ltd v Host Corporation Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 235; (2018) 354 ALR 353 Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd v Darrell Lea Chocolate Shops Pty Ltd (2007) 159 FCR 397 Campomar Sociedad, Limitada v Nike International Limited (2000) 202 CLR 45 Cassidy v Saatchi & Saatchi Australia Pty Ltd (2004) 134 FCR 585 Coca-Cola Company v All-Fect Distributors Ltd (1999) 96 FCR 107 Coca-Cola Company v PepsiCo Inc (No 2) [2014] FCA 1287; (2014) 322 ALR 505 Conde Nast Publications Pty Ltd v Taylor (1998) 41 IPR 505 Crazy Ron's Communications Pty Limited v Mobileworld Communications Pty Limited [2004] FCAFC 196; (2004) 209 ALR 1 Downey v Carlson Hotels Asia Pacific Pty Ltd [2005] QCA 199 Dunlop Aircraft Tyres Limited v Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company (2018) 262 FCR 76 E & J Gallo Winery v Lion Nathan Australia Pty Ltd (2010) 241 CLR 144 Estex Clothing Manufacturers Pty Ltd v Ellis & Goldstein Ltd (1967) 116 CLR 254 Food Chanel Network Pty Ltd v Television Food Network GP (2010) 185 FCR 9 Global Brand Marketing Inc v YD Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 605; (2008) 76 IPR 161 Health World Ltd v Shin-Sun Australia Pty Ltd (2010) 240 CLR 590 Hills Industries Ltd v Bitek Pty Ltd (2011) 214 FCR 396 In the matter of John Fitton & Company Limited's Application (1949) 66 RPC 110 In the matter of London Lubricants (1920) Limited's Application (1925) 42 RPC 264 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 JT International SA v Commonwealth of Australia; British American Tobacco Australasia Limited v Commonwealth of Australia (2012) 250 CLR 1 Lodestar Anstalt v Campari America LLC (2016) 244 FCR 557 Louis Vuitton Malletier SA v Toea Pty Ltd (2006) 156 FCR 158 McCormick & Company Inc v McCormick [2000] FCA 1335; (2000) 51 IPR 102 Mobileworld Communications Pty Ltd v Q & Q Global Enterprise [2003] FCA 1404; (2003) 61 IPR 98 New South Wales Dairy Corporation v Murray Goulbourn Co-operative Co Ltd (1989) 86 ALR 549 Optical 88 Limited v Optical 88 Pty Limited (2011) 197 FCR 67 Optical 88 Limited v Optical 88 Pty Limited (No 2) [2010] FCA 1380; (2010) 275 ALR 526 Pham Global Pty Ltd v Insight Clinical Imaging Pty Ltd (2017) 251 FCR 379 Pioneer Computers Australia Pty Ltd v Pioneer KK (2009) 176 FCR 300 Playgro Pty Ltd v Playgo Art & Craft Manufactory Limited [2016] FCA 280; (2016) 335 ALR 144 Registrar of Trade Marks v Woolworths Ltd (1999) 93 FCR 365 Saville Perfumery Ld v June Perfect Ld and FW Woolworth & Co Ld (1941) 58 RPC 147 Scandinavian Tobacco Group Eersel BV v Trojan Trading Company Pty Ltd (2016) 243 FCR 152 Sensis Pty Ltd v Senses Direct Mail and Fulfillment Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 719; (2019) 141 IPR 463 Shape Shopfitters Pty Ltd v Shape Australia Pty Ltd (No 3) [2017] FCA 865; (2017) 124 IPR 435 Shell Company of Australia Limited v Esso Standard Oil (Australia) Limited (1963) 109 CLR 407 Singtel Optus Pty Limited v Optum Inc [2018] FCA 575 SMA Solar Technology AG v Beyond Building Systems Pty Ltd (No 5) [2012] FCA 1483 Solahart Industries Pty Ltd v Solar Shop Pty Ltd [2011] FCA 700; (2011) 281 ALR 544 Southcorp Brands Pty Ltd v Australia Rush Rich Winery Pty Ltd [2019] FCA 720; (2019) 369 ALR 299 Swole Gym Wear Group Pty Ltd v Swole O'Clock Ltd [2019] FCA 685 Telstra Corporation Limited v Phone Directories Company Australia Pty Ltd (2015) 237 FCR 388 Trident Seafoods Corporation v Trident Foods Pty Ltd [2019] FCAFC 100 Unilever Australia Limited v PB Foods Ltd [2000] FCA 798 Unilever Australia Ltd v Karounos (2001) 113 FCR 322 Vivo International Corporation Pty Ltd v TiVo Inc [2012] FCAFC 159; (2012) 294 ALR 661 Zivanovic v Australian Securities and Investments Commission [2017] FCA 1633