Urban Alley Brewery Pty Ltd v La Sirene Pty Ltd

• Jurisdiction: Australia Federal only
• Judge: O'BRYAN J
• Judgment Date: 07 February 2020
• Neutral Citation: [2020] FCA 82
• Court: Federal Court
• Date: 07 February 2020

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Urban Alley Brewery Pty Ltd v La Sirène Pty Ltd [2020] FCA 82

File number:	VID 223 of 2018
Judge:	O'BRYAN J
Date of judgment:	7 February 2020
Catchwords:	TRADE MARKS – infringement – use as a trade mark – whether respondent infringed applicant’s mark by using the “Urban Pale” name as a trade mark – defences to infringement – good faith use – prior use – exercise of a right to use a trade mark – cancellation – whether mark capable of distinguishing goods – whether marks substantially identical or deceptively similar – whether applicant had valid claim to ownership of marks at priority date – whether applicant acquired reputation in its mark – whether use of respondent’s marks would be likely to deceive or cause confusion – whether Court should exercise its discretion under s 88(1)(a) of the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) to order cancellation of marks – groundless threats – effect of assignment of mark – where cross-claimant delayed in seeking declaratory relief under s 129(2) of the Trade Marks Act (Cth) – application dismissed – order made for cancellation of applicant’s mark – cross-claim otherwise dismissed ; CONSUMER LAW – principles governing the tort of passing off and ss 18 and 29 of the Australian Consumer Law – whether respondent’s use of the “Urban Pale” name constituted misleading and deceptive conduct and passing off – claims dismissed
Legislation:	Australian Consumer Law ss 18, 29(1)(g), 29(1)(h) Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Raising the Bar) Act 2012 (Cth) Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) ss 7(1), 41, 44(1), 58, 88(1)(a), 88(2)(a), 88(2)(c), 120(1), 122(1)(b)(i), 122(1)(e), 124(1), 129(1), 129(2)(a), 129(4), 129(5)
Cases cited:	ACCC v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd[2014] FCA 634; 317 ALR 73; ATPR 42-475 ACCC v Dukemaster Pty Ltd[2009] FCA 682; ASAL 55-196; ATPR 42-290 ACCC v Turi Foods Pty Ltd (No 4)[2013] FCA 665; ATPR 42-448 Aldi Foods Pty Ltd v Moroccanoil Israel Ltd (2018) 261 FCR 301 Aldi Stores Ltd Partnership v Frito-Lay Trading Co GmbH[2001] FCA 1874; 190 ALR 185; 54 IPR 344 Anchorage Capital Partners Pty Ltd v ACPA Pty Ltd (2018) 259 FCR 514 Anheuser-Busch, Inc v BudějovickýBudvar, Národní Podnik[2002] FCA 390; 56 IPR 182 Apple Inc v Registrar of Trade Marks (2014) 227 FCR 511 Austin, Nichols & Co Inc v Lodestar Anstalt (2012) 202 FCR 490 B M Auto Sales Pty Ltd v Budget Rent A Car System Pty Ltd (1977) 12 ALR 363; 51 ALJR 254 Blount Inc v Registrar of Trade Marks (1998) 83 FCR 50 Bodum v DKSH Australia Pty Ltd [2011] FCAFC 98; 280 ALR 639; 92 IPR 222 Bohemia Crystal Pty Ltd v Host Corporation Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 235; 354 ALR 353; 129 IPR 482 Bradken Resources Pty Ltd v Lynx Engineering Consultants Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 1257; 78 IPR 586 Britt Allcroft (Thomas) LLC v Miller (t/as Thomas Shop) [2000] FCA 699;49 IPR 7; ATPR 41-776 Burger King Corporation v Registrar of Trade Marks (1973) 128 CLR 417 Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd v Darrell Lea Chocolate Shops Pty Ltd (2007) 159 FCR 397 Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd v Darrell Lea Chocolate Shops Pty Ltd (No 8)[2008] FCA 470; 75 IPR 557; ATPR 42-229 Cantarella Bros Pty Ltd v Kona Coffee Roastery & Equipment Supplies Pty Ltd (1993) 28 IPR 176; [1994] AIPC 91-048 Cantarella Bros Pty Ltd v Modena Trading Pty Ltd(2014) 254 CLR 337 Carnival Cruise Lines Inc v Sitmar Cruises Ltd (1994) 120 ALR 495; 31 IPR 375; AIPC 91-049 Childrens Television Workshop Inc v Woolworths (NSW) Ltd [1981] 1 NSWLR 273 Clark Equipment Co v Registrar of Trade Marks (1964) 111 CLR 511 Coca-Cola Co v All-Fect Distributors Ltd(1999) 96 FCR 107 Colorado Group Ltd v Strandbags Group Pty Ltd (2007) 164 FCR 506 ConAgra Inc v McCain Foods (Aust) Pty Ltd(1992) 33 FCR 302 Crazy Ron's Communications Pty Ltd v Mobileworld Communications Pty Ltd[2004] FCAFC 196; 209 ALR 1; 61 IPR 212 Draper v Trist[1939] 3 All ER 513; 56 RPC 429 E & J Gallo Winery v Lion Nathan Australia Pty Ltd(2010) 241 CLR 144 Eli Lilly & Co v Chelsea Drug & Chemical Co [1966] RPC 14 F.H. Faulding & Co Ltd v Imperial Chemical Industries of Australia and New Zealand Ltd (1965) 112 CLR 537 Flexopack S.A. Plastics Industry v Flexopack Australia Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 235; 118 IPR 239 Food Channel Network Pty Ltd v Television Food Network GP (2010) 185 FCR 9 Hornsby Building Information Centre Pty Ltd v Sydney Building Information Centre Ltd(1978) 140 CLR 216 Howard Auto-Cultivators Ltd v Webb Industries Pty Ltd (1946) 72 CLR 175 Hy-Line Chicks Pty Ltd v Swifte(1966) 115 CLR 159 Johnson & Johnson Australia Pty Ltd v Sterling Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd (1991) 30 FCR 326 Le Cordon Bleu BV v Cordon Bleu International Ltee (2000) 50 IPR 1 Madden v Seafolly Pty Ltd[2014] FCAFC 30; 313 ALR 1 Mantra Group Pty Ltd v Tailly Pty Ltd (No 2) (2010) 183 FCR 450 Mars Australia Pty Ltd v Sweet Rewards Pty Ltd [2009] FCA 606; 81 IPR 354; AIPC 92-344 Mars Australia Pty Ltd v Sweet Rewards Pty Ltd[2009] FCAFC 174; 84 IPR 12; [2010] AIPC 92-364 McCormick & Company Inc v McCormick[2000] FCA 1335; 51 IPR 102 Nature's Blend Pty Ltd v Nestle Australia Ltd[2010] FCA 198; 86 IPR 1; AIPC 92-375 Nutrientwater Pty Ltd v Baco Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 2; 265 ALR 140; 84 IPR 452 Optical 88 Ltd v Optical 88 Pty Ltd (No 2)[2010] FCA 1380; 275 ALR 526; 89 IPR 457 Oxford University Press v Registrar of Trade Marks (1990) 24 FCR 1 Pepsico Australia Pty Ltd v Kettle Chip Co Pty Ltd(1996) 135 ALR 192; 33 IPR 161; AIPC 91-213 Pham Global Pty Ltd v Insight Clinical Imaging Pty Ltd (2017) 251 FCR 379 Re Bali Brassiere Co. Inc’s Registered Trade Mark & Berlei Ltd’s Application (1968) 118 CLR 128 Reckitt & Colman (Australia) Ltd v Boden (1945) 70 CLR 84 Reckitt and Colman Products Ltd v Borden Inc (1990) 17 IPR 1 Registrar of Trade Marks v W & G Du Cros Ltd [1913] AC 624 Registrar of Trade Marks v Woolworths Ltd (1999) 93 FCR 365 Shell Co of Australia Ltd v Esso Standard Oil (Australia) Ltd(1963) 109 CLR 407 Shell Company of Australia Ltd v Rohm and Haas Company (1949) 78 CLR 601 Southern Cross Refrigerating Company v Toowoomba Foundry Pty Ltd (1954) 91 CLR 592 Stone & Wood Group Pty Ltd v Intellectual Property Development Corporation Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 820; 120 IPR 478 Stone & Wood Group Pty Ltd v Intellectual Property Development Corporation Pty Ltd [2018] FCAFC 29; 357 ALR 15; 129 IPR 238 Verrocchi v Direct Chemist Outlet Pty Ltd (2016) 247 FCR 570 Wellness Pty Ltd v Pro Bio Living Waters Pty Ltd[2004] FCA 438; 61 IPR 242; AIPC 91-983 Yarra Valley Dairy Pty Ltd v Lemnos Foods Pty Ltd (2010) 191 FCR 297
Dates of hearing:	17, 18 and 19 June 2019
Registry:	Victoria
Division:	General Division
National Practice Area:	Intellectual Property
Sub-area:	Trade Marks
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