Europa International Pty Ltd v Child [2016] NSWSC 923

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Europa International Pty Ltd v Child [2016] NSWSC 923 Hearing dates: 11/04/2016, 12/04/2016, 13/04/2016, 14/04/2016, 15/04/2016, 18/04/2016, 19/04/2016, 20/04/2016, 21/04/2016, 22/04/2016, 26/04/2016 and 27/04/2016 Date of orders: 08 July 2016 Decision date: 08 July 2016 Jurisdiction: Equity - Commercial List Before: McDougall J Decision: Note that defendants remain bound by their undertakings to the Court, according to their terms. Proceedings otherwise dismissed with costs. Directions if any further costs orders sought. Catchwords: CONTRACT – confidential information – whether confidential information has been identified with requisite specificity – whether defendants entered into confidentiality agreements – whether information has become part of a person's general skill, knowledge and experience

EQUITY – confidential information – whether such information as is confidential warrants equitable protection – whether such confidential information was received by the defendants in circumstances importing an obligation of confidence

EQUITY – injunctions – whether undertakings provided by defendants are sufficient to protect such information as is confidential Legislation Cited: Restraints of Trade Act 1976 (NSW) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Amway Corporation v Eurway International Ltd [1974] RPC 82 Ansell Rubber Co Pty Ltd v Allied Rubber Industries Pty Ltd [1967] VR 37 Balstone Ltd v Headline Filters Ltd [1987] FSR 330 Breen v Williams (1996) 186 CLR 71 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336 Creative Brands Pty Ltd v Franklin [2001] VSC 338 Del Casale v Artedomus (Aust) Pty Ltd (2007) 73 IPR 326 Deta Nominees Pty Ltd v Viscount Plastic Products Pty Ltd [1979] VR 167 Liberty Financial Pty Ltd v Scott (No 4) (2005) 11 VR 629 O'Brien v Komesaroff (1982) 150 CLR 310 Stenhouse Australia Ltd v Phillips [1974] AC 391 Wright v Gasweld Pty Ltd (1991) 22 NSWLR 317 Texts Cited: R. Dean, The Law of Trade Secrets and Personal Secrets (Second Edition, 2002) B T Parsons, Bitters: a spirited History of a Classic Cure all. Category: Principal judgment Parties: Europa International Pty Ltd (Plaintiff) Keith Michael Child (First defendant) Kylie Robyn Reddy (Second defendant) Ian Kingham (Third defendant) Redkin Equipments Pty Ltd (Fourth defendant) Kindred Pty Ltd (Fifth defendant) Representation: Counsel: J Robson SC / H Mirza (Plaintiff) M Walsh SC / M Smith (Defendants)