Fasco Australia Pty Ltd v Tesonic Australia Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 1614

Fasco Australia Pty Ltd v Tesonic Australia Pty Ltd [1999] FCA 1614

There is a serious question to be tried regarding whether the Tesonic motors or their parts constitute a substantial three-dimensional reproduction of the applicant's copyright drawings, and whether model number usage constitutes passing off or breaches of ss 52 and 53 of the Trade Practices Act. Balance of convenience favours granting interlocutory injunctive relief.

Parties
Applicant: Fasco Australia Pty Ltd; First Respondent: Tesonic Australia Pty Ltd; Second Respondent: Mr Lee
Jurisdiction
Australia
Judgment Date
01 November 1999
Procedural Posture
Interlocutory Application / Determination of Interlocutory Injunction
Outcome
Interlocutory injunction granted
Legal Topics
Copyright Infringement, Passing Off, Misleading and Deceptive Conduct, Interlocutory Injunction
Intellectual Property Law Trade Practices Law Copyright Infringement Passing Off Misleading and Deceptive Conduct Interlocutory Injunction

Case Brief

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Parties

Fasco Australia Pty Ltd

Applicant

Tesonic Australia Pty Ltd

First Respondent

Mr Lee

Second Respondent

Procedural Posture

Interlocutory Application / Determination of Interlocutory Injunction

Legal Issues

  1. 1 Whether the respondents have infringed the applicant's copyright in certain engineering drawings
  2. 2 Whether the respondents' sale of motors constitutes passing off
  3. 3 Whether conduct constitutes breach of Trade Practices Act ss 52 and 53(a), (c), (d)

Ratio Decidendi

There is a serious question to be tried regarding whether the Tesonic motors or their parts constitute a substantial three-dimensional reproduction of the applicant's copyright drawings, and whether model number usage constitutes passing off or breaches of ss 52 and 53 of the Trade Practices Act. Balance of convenience favours granting interlocutory injunctive relief.

Court Disposition

Interlocutory injunction granted

Orders

  • Respondents restrained from importing, selling, offering for sale, or distributing Tesonic motors or substantially similar components until hearing or further order.
  • Costs of the application reserved.