Caswell v Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 841

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Caswell v Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 841 Hearing dates: 23 & 24 June 2014 Decision date: 03 July 2014 Jurisdiction: Equity Division Before: Pembroke J Decision: Claim dismissed Catchwords: COPYRIGHT - musical work - alleged infringement - requirements of United States law CONTRACT - novation, assignment or variation of contractual obligations - no proof by plaintiff GOOD FAITH - whether conduct of defendant in failing to exercise its discretion to institute and prosecute copyright proceedings in the United States was honest and reasonable GOOD FAITH - contractual relationship - requirement of good faith has subjective and objective components GOOD FAITH - contractual relationship - no independent good faith obligation outside contract EVIDENCE - Jones v Dunkel inference - not available in the absence of evidence capable of supporting inference EVIDENCE - speculation and conjecture not evidence Legislation Cited: Anti-Discrimination Act 1977 (NSW) Copyright Act of 1976 (USA) Cases Cited: Aiton v Transfield [1999] NSWSC 996 Berndale Securities Limited v How Trading Pty Ltd (2010) 78 ACSR 218 Burger King Corporation v Hungry Jack's Pty Ltd [2001] NSWCA 187 Cordon Investments Pty Ltd v Lesdor Properties Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 184 Cubillo v Commonwealth (2000) 103 FCR 1 Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Jorgensen v EPIC/Sony Records, 351 F.3d 46 (2d Cir. 2003) Lipton v Nature Co, 71 F.3d 464 (2d Cir. 1995) Margo v Weiss, No. 96 Civ. 3842(MBM), 1998 WL 765185 Renard Constructions (ME) Pty Ltd v Minister for Public Works (1992) 26 NSWLR 234 Shanghold v The Walt Disney Co Ltd, No. 03 Civ. 9522(WHP), 2006 WL 71672 Schellenberg v Tunnel Holdings Pty Ltd (2000) 200 CLR 121 Sunol v Collier (No 2) [2012] NSWCA 44 Tisdall v Webber [2011] FCAFC 76 Texts Cited: Carter, Peden & Tolhurst, Contract Law in Australia, (5th ed 2007, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: David Allan Caswell - plaintiff Sony/ATV Music Publishing (Australia) Pty Ltd - defendant Representation: Counsel: D P Ash with W K Soon - for the plaintiff M J Darke with Q Rares - for the defendant Solicitors: L J Sharpe & Co - for the plaintiff Allens, Solicitors - for the defendant File Number(s): 2010/305708