AGL Energy Limited v Greenpeace Australia Pacific Limited [2021] FCA 625

Federal Court of Australia

AGL Energy Limited v Greenpeace Australia Pacific Limited [2021] FCA 625 File number: NSD 397 of 2021

Judgment of: BURLEY J

Date of judgment: 8 June 2021

Catchwords: COPYRIGHT – infringement – Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) s 36 – artistic work constituted by company logo – where subsistence of copyright not challenged – where agreed that a substantial part has been copied – whether the use of the artistic work in different forms of media amounts to a fair dealing for the purpose of parody or satire within s 41A of the Copyright Act – whether the use of the artistic work in different forms of media amounts to a fair dealing for the purpose of criticism or review within s 41 of the Copyright Act – infringement established in respect of some impugned uses – entitlement to additional damages TRADE MARK - infringement – Trade Mark Act 1995 (Cth) s 120 – whether trade mark use of impugned mark – whether in relation to goods of the same description – infringement not established

Legislation: Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) ss 10, 31(1), 36, 40, 41, 41A, 115(4) Copyright Amendment Act 2006 (Cth) Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) ss 17, 120(1) Commonwealth, Parliamentary Debates, House of Representatives, 19 October 2006 Commonwealth, Parliamentary Debates, Senate, 29 November 2006 Supplementary Explanatory Memorandum, Copyright Amendment Bill 2006 (Cth) US Copyright Act (17 USC) §107

Cases cited: Aid/Watch Inc v Federal Commissioner of Taxation [2010]) HCA 42; 241 CLR 539 Aristocrat Technologies Australia v Global Gaming [2016] FCAFC 22; 329 ALR 522 De Garis v Neville Jeffress Pidler Pty Ltd [1990] FCA 352; 37 FCR 99 Dynamic Supplies Pty Limited v Tonnex International Pty Limited (No 3) [2014] FCA 909; 312 ALR 705 Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Reed International Books Australia Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 984; 189 FCR 109 IceTV Pty Limited v Nine Network Australia Pty Limited [2009] HCA 14; 239 CLR 458 MID Sydney Pty Ltd v Australian Tourism Co Ltd [1998] FCA 1616; 90 FCR 236 Pokémon Company International, Inc. v Redbubble Ltd [2017] FCA 1541; 351 ALR 676 Shell Company of Australia Ltd v Esso Standard Oil (Australia) Ltd [1963] HCA 66; 109 CLR 407 TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd v Network Ten Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 108; 108 FCR 235 TCN Channel Nine Pty Ltd v Network Ten Pty Ltd [2002] FCAFC 146; 118 FCR 417 Universal Music Publishing Pty Ltd v Palmer (No 2) [2021] FCA 434 Woolworths Ltd v BP plc [2006] FCAFC 132; 154 FCR 97 Hubbard v Vosper [1972] 2 QB 84 Irvings Yeast-Vite Ltd v Horsenail (1934) 51 RPC 110 Pro Sieben AG v Carlton UK Television Ltd [1999] 1 WLR 605 Ravenscroft v Herbert & New English Library Ltd [1980] RPC 193 Time Warner Entertainments Co. v Channel Four Television Corporation Plc. [1984] EMLR 1 American Geophysical Union v Texaco 60 F 3d 913 (2d Cir, 1994) Campbell v Acuff-Rose Music, Inc. 510 US 569 (1994) Google LLC v Oracle America, Inc 593 U.S. ___ Copinger and Skone James on Copyright (18th ed, Sweet & Maxwell, 2021) Lahore Copyright and Designs (LexisNexis Butterworths, subscription service) Macquarie Dictionary (5th ed, 2009, Sydney)