NSW Caselaw
Reported Decision : 71 IPR 640
New South Wales Supreme Court
CITATION : Generate Group Pty Limited v Sea-Tech Automation Pty Limited [2007] NSWSC 226
HEARING DATE(S) : 12/03/07
JUDGMENT DATE : 15 March 2007
JURISDICTION : Equity Division
JUDGMENT OF : Einstein J
DECISION : Upon the giving of appropriate undertakings to the Court orders to be made for the delivery of the defendant to the plaintiff of copies of the source code for the identified computer programs
CATCHWORDS : Equity - Mandatory interlocutory injunctions - Serious case - Balance of convenience - Software Development and Support Agreement - Construction of contract - Copyright - Litigation concerning ownership of copyright in source code versions of computer programs - Estoppel - Claim to exclusive non-revocable licence to copyright covering every code version of subject computer programs including each source code version - Consideration of what is source code as compared to compiled versions or object code - Definition of "software" utilised by parties is general in its terms failing to distinguish between any language or form of code in which the computer program might be recorded
LEGISLATION CITED : Copyright Act 1968
American Cyanamid Co v Ethicon Ltd [1975] AC 396 Antaios Compania Naviera SA v Salen Rederierna AB [1985] AC 191 Appleton Papers Inc v Tomasetti Paper [1983] 3 NSWLR 208 Australian Broadcasting Commission v Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd (1973) 129 CLR 99 Autodesk Inc v Dyason (No1) (1992) 173 CLR 330 Biotechnology Australia Pty Ltd v Pace (1988) 15 NSWLR 130 Businessworld Computers Pty Ltd v Australian Telecommunications Commission (1988) 82 ALR 499 Codelfa Construction Pty Ltd v State Rail Authority (NSW) (1982) 149 CLR 337 Computer Edge Pty Ltd v Apple Computer Inc (1986) 161 CLR 171 Data Access Corporation v Powerflex Services Pty Limited (1999) 202 CLR 1 Eng Mee Yong v Letchumanan [1980] AC 331 Hide & Skin Trading Pty Ltd v Oceanic Meat Traders Limited (1990) 20 NSWLR 310 CASES CITED : Hungry Jacks Pty Ltd v Burger King Corporation, unreported, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Einstein J, 7 December 1998 International Fina Services AG v Katrina Shipping Ltd ("The Fina Samco") [1995] 2 Lloyd's Rep 344 Investors Compensation Scheme Ltd v West Bromwich Building Society [1998] 1 WLR 896 Lakatoi Universal Pty Ltd & Walker [2000] NSWSC 113 L Schuler AG v Wickman Machine Tool Sales Ltd [1974] AC 235 Maggbury Pty Limited v Hafele Australia Pty Limited (2001) 76 ALJR 246 Meehan v Jones (1982) 149 CLR 571 Ni-Tech Pty Ltd v Parker [1998] 484 FCA, 27 April 1998 Optus Vision Pty Ltd v Australian Rugby Football League Ltd [2004] NSWCA 61 Peppers Hotel Management Pty Ltd v Hotel Capital Partners Ltd [2004] NSWCA 114 Prenn v Simmonds [1971] WLR 1381 Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust v South Sydney City Council (2002) 186 ALR 289 Upper Hunter County District Council v Australian Chilling and Freezing Co Ltd (1968) 118 CLR 429 Vodafone Pacific Ltd v Mobile Innovations Ltd [2004] NSWCA 15
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