AUSTRALIAN CO-OPERATIVE FOODS v NORCO [1999] NSWSC 274

Reported Decision : [1999] 46 NSWLR 267 [1999] 45 IPR 228

New South Wales Supreme Court CITATION : AUSTRALIAN CO-OPERATIVE FOODS v NORCO [1999] NSWSC 274 CURRENT JURISDICTION : EQUITY FILE NUMBER(S) : 4662/98 HEARING DATE(S) : 18-19 February 1999 1-2 March 1999 JUDGMENT DATE : 31 March 1999

AUSTRALIAN CO-OPERATIVE FOODS LIMITED PARTIES : v NORCO CO-OPERATIVE LIMITED JUDGMENT OF : Bryson J at 1

COUNSEL : PLAINTIFF: MR J IRELAND QC/MR S C BURLEY DEFENDANT: MR J J GARNSEY QC/Ms A H BOWNE SOLICITORS : PLAINTIFF: ADDISONS DEFENDANT: STONE & PARTNERS CATCHWORDS : CONTRACT; Construction; licence to use registered trade mark; discretion to grant or withhold approval of packaging; exercise of discretion; subject to implied term of honesty, reasonableness, good faith; decision to withhold approval to continue industry practice of co-branding; implied term not exceeded by decision.; ESTOPPEL; By convention; prior industry practice of co-branding of trade marks; claim that party estopped from refusing to grant approval under licence to continue to co-brand ; change of circumstances in industry known to party; no estoppel.; ESTOPPEL; pre-contractual representation; context of representations; subsequent written licence agreement; agreement intended to govern all rights; exercise of discretion pursuant to agreement; refusal to grant approval to continue prior practice of co-branding; no estoppel.; TRADE MARKS; TMA 1995 s24 - trade mark becomes descriptive after registration; subs88 (2) (c) - mark likely to deceive or cause confusion; attacks on registered trade marks failed on the facts; s87 rectification of Register of Trade Marks. Trade Marks Act 1905, s 114 ACTS CITED : Trade Marks Act 1955, s 25 (1), s 26, s 28 (a), (d).,s 61, s 71 (1), s 94, Trade Marks Act 1995, Division 2, Part 4, 5 , s 6, subs 7 (3), s 24, subs24 (1), (2), (3) and (4), s 25, s 41, s 57, subs 72 (1), subs 87 (1), (2), s 88, subs 88 (2) (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), s 89, subs 233 (1), s 234. Trade Practices Act 1974 Alcatel Australia Limited v Scarcella & Ors (1998) 44 NSWLR 349. Australian Berlei Case (1973) 129 CLR 353 Johnson Matthey v A C Rochester Overseas Corporation (1990) 23 NSWLR 190. Murray Goulburn Co-operative Co. Limited v NSW Dairy Corporation & Anor (1990) 116 IPR 289. CASES CITED : NSW Dairy Corporation v Murray Goulburn Co-operative Company Limited (1991) 171 CLR 363. Pioneer Kabushiki Kaisha v Registrar of Trade Marks (1977) 137. Skywest Aviation Pty Ltd v Commonwealth of Australia (1995)126 FLR 61. Southern Cross Refrigerating Company v Toowoomba Foundry Pty Ltd (1954) 91 CLR 592 State Rail Authority (NSW) v Heath Outdoor Pty Ltd (1986) 7 NSWLR 170. Whittet v State Bank of NSW (1991) 24 NSWLR 146. DECISION : SEE PARAGRAPH 99