Link 2 Pty Ltd v Ezystay Systems Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 317

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Link 2 Pty Ltd v Ezystay Systems Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 317 Hearing dates: 20 July 2016 Decision date: 22 November 2016 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1]; Ward JA at [2]; Leeming JA at [240] Decision: (1) Refuse leave to the appellants and cross-appellants respectively to appeal/cross-appeal. (2) Dismiss the notice- of appeal and notice of cross-appeal as incompetent. (3) Each party to pay its own costs of the proceedings in this Court. Catchwords: APPEAL – whether leave required for appeal/cross-appeal – respective complaints by appellants/cross-appellants as to ambit of injunctive relief granted by primary judge – complaint by appellants as to apportionment of costs – leave required for both appeal and cross-appeal – leave refused

CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION – whether respondents' software, business manuals and other documents were confidential

DIRECTORS – duties owed to companies – whether use by third appellant of respondents' documents amounted to breach of statutory and fiduciary duties Legislation Cited: Corporations Act 2001 (Cth), ss 182, 183, 1317H Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 55, 79, 135 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), s 101(2)(r) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), rr 31.28, 42.1 Cases Cited: AG Australia Holdings Ltd v Burton [2002] NSWSC 454; (2002) 58 IPR 327 Be Financial Pty Ltd as Trustee for Be Financial Operations Trust v Das [2012] NSWCA 164 Bramco Electronics Pty Ltd v ATF Mining Electrics Pty Ltd [2013] NSWCA 392 British Franco Electric Pty Ltd v Dowling Plastics Pty Ltd [1981] 1 NSWLR 448 CEF Holdings Ltd v City Electrical Factors Ltd [2012] EWHC 1524 Coco v AN Clark (Engineers) Ltd [1969] RPC 41 Commercial Plastics v Vincent [1965] 1 QB 623 Dalgety Wine Estates Pty Ltd v Rizzon (1979) 141 CLR 552; [1979] HCA 41 Del Casale v Artedomus (Aust) Pty Ltd [2007] NSWCA 172; (2007) 73 IPR 326 Drake Personnel Ltd v Beddison [1979] VR 13 Durham v Durham (2011) 80 NSWLR 335; [2011] NSWCA 62 Ezystay Systems Pty Ltd v Link 2 Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 180 Ezystay Systems Pty Ltd v Link 2 Pty Ltd [2015] NSWSC 1105 Ezystay Systems Pty Ltd v Link 2 Pty Ltd (No 2) [2015] NSWSC 1594 Franchi v Franchi [1967] RPC 149 H&R Block Ltd v Sanott [1976] 1 NZLR 213 Hampson v Hampson [2010] NSWCA 359 Harrison v Project and Design Co (Redcar) Ltd [1978] FSR 81 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Industrial Furnaces Ltd v Reaves [1970] RPC 605 Jaycar Pty Ltd v Lombardo [2011] NSWCA 284 JC Williamson Ltd v Lukey (1931) 45 CLR 282; [1931] HCA 15 Jensen v Ray [2011] NSWCA 247 Lancashire Fires Ltd v SA Lyons & Co Ltd [1996] FSR 629 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705; [2001] NSWCA 305 New South Wales v Stevens (2012) 82 NSWLR 106; [2012] NSWCA 415 Ocular Sciences Ltd v Aspect Vision Care Ltd [1997] RPC 289 Polo Enterprises Australia Pty Ltd v Pinctada Hotels and Resorts Pty Ltd [2015] NSWCA 397 Saltman Engineering Co Ltd v Campbell Engineering Co Ltd [1963] 3 All ER 413 Seager v Copydex Ltd [1967] 2 All ER 415 United States Surgical Corporation v Hospital Products International Pty Ltd [1983] 2 NSWLR 157 Zomojo Pty Ltd v Hurd (No 2) [2012] FCA 1458 Texts Cited: Dal Pont, Law of Confidentiality (2015, LexisNexis) Dean, The Law of Trade Secrets (1990, LawBook Co) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Link 2 Pty Ltd (First Appellant/First Cross-Respondent) Riches Commercial Pty Ltd (Second Appellant/Second Cross-Respondent) Gregory Moore Riches (Third Appellant/Third Cross-Respondent) Ezystay Systems Pty Ltd (First Respondent/First Cross-Appellant) Ezystay Properties Pty Ltd (Second Respondent/Second Cross-Appellant) Sleeping Operations Pty Ltd (Third Respondent/Third Cross-Appellant) Sleeping with the Enemy Pty Ltd (Fourth Respondent/Fourth Cross-Appellant) Sleeping in Australia Pty Ltd (Fifth Respondent/Fifth Cross-Appellant) Representation: Counsel: