Atari Inc and Futuretronies Australia Pty Ltd v Fairstar Electronics Pty Ltd
[1983] FCA 2
•23 Dec 1982
| Between: | A T A K l | TVC. | an.? |
| FIJTUKETROMTCS | AUSTRI\T,IA |
| PTY. | LTD. - |
(App l l can i s )
| - | And: | FATRSTAR E:LECTROV?CS | PT?. |
| - | |||
| - | L T D . |
(Respondent)
| CORAM: | SMITHERS J. |
2 3 December 1982
| 111s | HONOUR: | I n | this | case | t he | app l i can t s | s eek | i n t e r locL l to ry |
| i n j u n c t l o n s | r e s t r a ~ | n l n g | t h e | r e s p o n d e n t | from | impcrtlnq |
| i n t o | A u s t r a l i a | V i d e o | Computer | Systems | c a l l e d | " V C S s " | f r o n |
| i n f r l n g l n g | t h e | t r a d e m a r k | "Atarl" | of | F u t u r e t r o n l c s |
| 0 | A u s t r a l l a | P t y . | Ltd. | and | f rom | t rad inq | and | se l l lnq | in |
| A u s t r a l i a | V C S s | which | It | h a s | i m p o r t e d | f r o m | o u t s i d e |
| Australla and which bea r | t he | t r ademark | i n | ques t ion . | I t |
| is | no t | d l spu ted | t ha t | t he | t r ademark | was | s f f l x e d | CO | t h e |
| goods | I n q u e s t l o n b y A i a r ~ . I n c . |
| The | applicants | allso | s e e k a n | i n l u n c t i o n r e s r r a ~ n i n g | t h e |
| respondent | from | r e p r c s e n t m q | 111 | re la l - ion | t o these | qoo?!s |
L
2 .
| t h a t | It | h a s | the | r apac i ty | and | a b l l l c y | CO | provlrle | a>. l |
| necessary | equipment | and | s e r v l c e s | f o r | t h e | p r o p e r | a n d / o r |
| e f f e c t l v e | m a l n t e n a n c e , | s e r v l c i n g | o r | e p a i r | .of | t.he | VCSs |
| whlch a r e 1:vportcd | by | i t . | S e c o n d l y , | t h a t | t h e | VCSs | as |
| a fo resa ld . | have | the b e n e f l t of | a | capacity | or | a h l l l t y by |
| the respondent | t o | provide | a | p rope r and /o r r epa l r o f | t hose |
| s y s t e m s . | T h l r d l y , | t h a t | p e r s o n s | who | purchased | t-hc | s a ~ d |
| VCSs Imported, as aEoresa~.rl | from | the | respon4ent | between |
| 1 5 November 1982 and 31 | December 1YR2, w e r e | e n t l t l e d | t o |
| a | r e c e i v e | f r o m | t h e | s e c o n d - n a m e d | applicant | t h r e e | v i d e o |
| ca t r ldges wor th about | $100.00. |
| The | o u t l i n e | of | the | f a c t u a l | s 1 t u a t l o : l | 1 s | t h a t | t h e |
| a p p i l c a n t | A t a r | I n c . | 1s an American | Company | and | i s t h e |
| m a n u f a c t u r e r | of | VCSs. | T h e s e | a r e | e l e c t r o n l c | u n l t s |
| comprislng | a | m u l t l | c l r c u l t u n i t | anil | a u x l l x a r y cqu1pmc:nt. |
| A t a r l | I n c . | d l s t r i b u t e s | t h e s e | u n l t s | w o r l d - w l d e | t h r o u q h |
| d l s t r l b u t o r s who | a r e | authorized | t o s e l l | t o r e t a l l e r s | who |
| t r a d e | I n | p a r t l c u l a r | a r e a s . | I n | A u s t r a l i a | t h e | a p p l | c a n t , |
| F u t u r e t r o n l c s , | i s | t h e | sole | d l s t r l b u t o r . |
| The | respondent, | having | purchased | a | q u a n t l t y | o f | A t a r i |
| VCSs | o u t s ~ c l e | A u s t r a l l a , | has | Imported | them | i n t o | A u s t r a l i a |
| and | se l l s them | t o | p u r c h a s e r s | by | r e t a l l | a s | Atsrl | VCSs, |
| whxch | t h e y | a r e . | A t a r l | i s | t h e | r e g l s t e r e d | p r o p r l e t o r | o f |
| two | t rademarks | In | Aus t ra l la . | One , | t h e word | A'calI | and | the |
| o t h c r being | a | dev lce . | Th? | two | t rademarks | a re | normal l y |
| . . | .. , |
3 .
| used | In | cor . j l Inct lon, | the | o n e | with | t h e o t h e r , | anci | t h a t | 1 s |
| being | done | I n | respec t of | the | goods | In | qucs’clon | which hear |
| t h c words | Atarl | and | the | devlce . | A s | I | h a v e | l n d l c a t e d , |
| t h a t | mark | was | p ; a c e d t h e r e b y t h e a p p l i c a n t , A t a r l . |
| There | 1s | no | c o n t r a c t u r a l | r e l a t l o n s h l p | b e t w e e n | A t a r l |
| and | t h e | r e s p o n d e n t , | P a l r s t a r | E l c c t r o n i c s | P t y . | L t d . , | a n d |
| n o | e v l d e n c e | t h a t | I n | r a d i n g | In | A u s t r a l i a | b y | r e t a l l , |
| F a l r s t a r | 1s | I n | any con t r ac tu ra l b reach | 111 | r e l a t i o n | t o any |
| person. | :t | is | s a l d | t h a t | b y | s e l l l n g | t h e | g o o d s | i n |
| A u s t r a l i a | w l t h | t e | mark | upon | them | the | a p p l l c a n t | i s |
| in f r lng lng | the | t r ademark . |
| This argument | M ~ S | or ig lna l . ly suppor ted | by | r e f e r e n c e t o |
| c e r t a l n | obl ter | d i c t a | i n | W.D. | h H . O . | W21ls | ( A u s t r a l i a ) |
| Ltd. | v . | Rothmans | Ltd. | (1956) | 9 4 | C.L.R. | 193 | and | t o | t h e |
| view | expressed | by | M r . | J u s t i c e | S t a r k e | I n | Atar l | v . | Smi th |
| (1990) | 33 | A . L . R . | 20, | t h a t | ~ u d g m e n t | b e l n q | g i v e n | on | 2 6 |
November 1980.
| I n t h e l a t t e r c a s e t h e f a c t s w e r e v e r y | much | l l k e t h o s e |
| i n | t h i s | c a s e | a n d | M r . | J u s t ~ c e S t a r k e | came | t o | t h e |
| concl .uslon | that | It was | a r g u a b l e | t h a t I n | t h e c i r c u m s t a n c e s |
| descr lbed | above | the | respondent | by | i t s | conduct | might | be |
| d e s c r i b e d | a s | i n f r l n g l n g | t h e | h t a r i | t r a d e m a r k . | H e |
| c o n s l - d e r e d | t h e | b a l a n c e | of | convcn lence | and | gave |
| l n t e r l o c u t o r y | r e l i e f . | T h a t | c a s e | was | s e t t l e d | a n ? | t h e |
| 1 s s u e | r e m a n e d | j u C l ~ c ~ a l L y | w h e r c | It thcn was. | The ground |
| upon | which | M r . | J u s t i c e | S t a r k c | f e l t | a n | ai-gunlent- might | he |
| supported | was | the | c l l f f e rence | l n | l anguage | be | tween | t ha t | In |
| s . 6 | of | the | Commonwealth Trademark A c t of 1959 | and | t h a t ~n |
..
| S . 3 of the | Enqllsh | Trademark | Act | of 1965. | The lmportance |
| of | t h l s was | t h a t when | t h e | c a s e | o f | Chanlmqne Hcldsleck |
| Monopolc | Soc1.ete | e t c l e . | Monopole | Soc1.ete | Anonyme | v . |
| -- | _-_-_- | -- |
| Buxton | (1930) | 47 | R.P .C . | 2R | ( t h e | Champaqne Case) | was |
| d e c l d e d , | t h e | r e l e v a n t | d c f l n l t l o n | of | "trademark" | was | t h a t |
| I n S. 3 of the | Eng l l sh | A c t of | 1905. | Had | it | not | been | fo r |
| t h a t | d l f f e r e n t l a t l o n | I | l z n q u a g e , | Mr. | J u s t i c e | S t a r k e |
| wou ld | have | cons lde red | t ha t | t he | dec i s ion | i n | t he | Champaane |
| Case | was | d e c i s l v e | a g a l n s t | the | o p p l l c a n t . | The | m a t t e r |
| -- |
| h a v i n g | b e e n | a r g u e d | b e f o r e | me | a t | some | l e n g t h | I | am |
| persuaded | tha t | he | a rgument | ln | favour of | t h e | a p p l i c a n t s |
| i s , | a l thouqh | a rguab le , | l e s s | a rguab le | t han | wa5 | cons idered |
| by Mr. | Jus t l ce | S t a rke . | The re | seems | t o be | much | a u t h o r l t y |
| approv lnc j | t he | dec i s ion | In | t he | Champaqne | Case | -- | and | lt |
| a p p e a r s | t h a t | 3 | t | does | no t | depend | upon | the | d l f fe rence | i n |
| terminology of the two sections. | I t depends | upon | the |
| fundamental | nature | of a | trademark a s de f ined by Clauson |
| J. | i n | the | Champaqne | Case. | Tne | cr j t i ca l | c o n s l d e r a t l o n | i s |
| t h a t | t h e r e g i s t e r e d p r o p r l e t o r | of | a | trademark | i s | t o have |
| t h e | r l g h t . | e v c l u s i v e l y | t o use | such | t radcmark | In | the | sense |
| of | prevent- | ing others | f rom sel l ing wares whjch are | n o t h | ~ | s |
| marked wlth 111s tradernark. | A s put | by | Clauson | J. adsp t lng |
| what 1s sa ld | In | Ker l ey | on | Trademarks | (6th | Ecl l t~on) | at |
5 .
| 'I. . | . | t he | u se | o f | a | mark | by | the | defendant. , |
| whlch | j S | r e l l e d on | a s | an | l n f r inqe lwn t , | mus | t |
be a u s e upon goods wh>.ch m-e n o t Che genuine
goods 1.e. t h o s e upon wh.:hlch Ehe p l a l n t l f f ' s
| mark | 2s | proper ly used , | for anyone | may | use | t h e | - |
| p l a i n t i f f ' s | mark | on | t h e | p l a x n t l f f ' s | goods, |
| since that cannot | cause | the | decept lon | which |
| 1s | t h e t e s t o f i n f r l n g e m e n t | ." |
| S e e | f o r | c l a r l f l c a t l o n , | the | ~urlqment | of | Clauson | J. | a t p.36 |
| I n t h e | Champagpe Case. |
| M r . | Merkel | has | r e l i e d | upon | the language of | S .62 | o f t h e |
| A u s t r a l i a n | Act | and | it cannot | he | denied | that | hose | words, |
| , | a s | t h e y | s t a n d , | a r e | c a t e g o r i c a l | a n d | p u r p o r t | t o | show | t h a t |
| any | use | a t a l l by a | person other t h a n | t h e | p r o p r l e t o r | or |
| t h e r e g l s t e r e d u s e r o f | a | mark | I n | t h e c o u r s e o f | h l s | t r a d e , |
| i s | unlawful . | In | the | c a s e of | James | Mlnifle | & Co. | v. Edwin |
| Davey & Sons | (1933) | 49 | C . L . R . | 349 | a t p. | 361 | M r . | J u s t i c e |
| D1xon - as he then | was - s a i d :- |
| "It 1s s a l d | t h a t | the acknowledqed | pollcy | of |
| the Trade | Marks | A c t 1s t o | s t r e n g t h e n | and |
| p r o t e c t w l t h | new | remedles | a | form | of | p r o p e r t y |
| or | p r o p r i e t a r y r l g h t a l r e a d y e x l s t i n g a n d n o t |
t o c r e a t e a new one, and, accordingly, tha t what 1s forh ldden i s a use of t h e mark a n a l o g o u s t o tha t wh ich wou ld amoun t t o
| p a s s i n g | o f f . | R u t | t h i s method | of | reasoning | 1s |
| of | l l t t l e | a s s l s t a n c e | b e c a u s e | t h e | v e r y |
| ques t lon may | be | s a id | t o be | whether , | fo r | t h e |
| p r o t e c t x o n | t h e | o f | e x l s t l n g | f o r m | o f |
| p r o p r l e t a r y | r l g h t | or | I n t e r e s t , | the | s t a t u t e |
| h a s | n o t | made | It | an | in f r lngement | t o | u s e | t h e |
| mark | I n r e s p e c t of | goods | 111 any way I n | t h e |
| cour se | o f | t r ade . | I t | IS, | p e r h a p s , | t r u e | t h a t |
| the | words | a r e c a p a b l e | of | an | appl lca t lon whlch |
| would go beyond | use | In | t rade | or | bus~.ness | and |
| e x t e n d | t o | u s e | 111 | t h e | h a n d s | o f | u l t i m a t e |
| consumlers o r | u t l l ~ . z e r s | of | t h e | goods. | B u t , |
6.
| w h l l e | ~t | 1 s | n a t u r a l | t o | u n d e r s t a n d | t h e |
| 2 anguage | of | a | p r o v ~ s l o n | i n the Trade | Marks |
| Act a s | r e s t r ~ t e d t o comnercial | and | trariilng |
| o p e r a t l o n s , | some | firmer | qround | 1s needed t o |
| s u p p o r t | a n | l m p l l c a t l o n | f u r t h e r | r e s t r l c t l n g |
| 1ts | meanlng . | There | 1 s | g o o d | r e a s o n | f o r |
| prevent lng any | USE | of | a | t r a d e mark | upon | o r I n |
| connect lon | wlth | goods | which | t ends | t o confuse |
| the p u b l l c a s t o w h a t | It | s2gnlf1 es | and | so | to |
| i m p a l r | t h e | r e p u t a t i o n | whr.hlch | t h e | r e g l s t e r e d |
| p r o p r l c t o r | h a s | o h t a l n e d | o r | 1s | s e e k i n g | t o |
| obtaln under | It." |
| I n | t h e | p r e s e n t | c a s e | It | c a n n o t | b e | s a l d | t h a t | t h e | u s e | o f |
| the | t | rademark by | the respondent | in | connec-t ion wlth | the VCSs |
| does | tend | t o confuse the p u b l l c as t o what It s lgni f les or | ||||||||||
| t o | lmpalr |
|
| h a s , | or | 1 s seeking | t o obta in , | under | it. | I t appears t o me |
| to | be | acknowledged | or | r a t h e r | t o | be | Impl ied | In | !:hat | h is |
| Honour | s a y s , | t h a t | h e | D r a c o n l a n | terms | of | s.62 | a r e | t o | be |
| construed | according | t o | the | fundamental | nature | of what a |
trademark 1s.
| The Champagne Case | has | never | been | sald | t o | be | lnaccura t e |
| and has many times been | approved. | A s to S .62, | I have h e n |
| 0 | r e f e r r e d t o | a | s h o r t b u t c r l t l c a l p a s s a g e I n | the | judgment | of |
| W l l l l a m s | J . | i n | Mark Foy's Llml ted | v . | Dav ies | Coop | - | a n d |
| Company | L l m l t e d | and | Another | (1956) | 95 C . L . R . | 190 a t p . | 204.. |
| We | are | speaking | of | s.62, | or | r a t h e r , | t h e | equivalent, namely |
| S .S3 of the A c t as It then was. | H e said:- |
| "Sec t ion | 53 | i s | rea l ly | an | appendaye | t o | S . 50 |
| and I t s functi.on | 1s t o wlden t h e | d z f l n l t l o n |
| of | lnf r inqement so a s to Inc lude | cases | wherr |
| the | defendant | rloos | not | u s e | the | i r l e n t l c a l |
7 .
| t r a d e | mark | b u t | s e s | a | mark | s u h s t a n t i a l l y |
| l d e n t l c a l | w l t h | ~t o r | so | near ly | resemblxnq it |
| a s | t o | he | l i k e l y to dece lve . | Ru | t | he | a l l eqed |
| lnfr lngement | m u s t | stlll | be | t h e | u s e | of | t h e |
| p l a l n t l f f ' s | t r a d e | mark | o r | some | m a r k |
| s u b s t a n t l a l l y | l d e n t l c a l | with | it | a s | a | t r a d e |
| mark. " |
| I do not | f lnd | anywhere | any | suggestion | t h a t s .53 | a s It |
| then was | o r S .G2 as It now | i s , a r e | n e c e s s a r i l y | t o | h | e | r e a d |
| e n t l r e l y | l l t e r a l l y | and | with | each | word | extending | i n t o | e v e r y |
| a spec t o f | t r ade | to wh lch | they a re capab le | of | r e f e r r l n g , t h e y |
| a r e | r e a d | w l t h o u t | r e f e r e n c e | t o | the | fundamental | nature of a |
trademark.
| I t | seems | t o be | n o t v l g o r o u s l y d l s p u t e d t h a t | lf s . 6 2 | 1 s t o |
| be read It, t h e r e would | In | the | way I n whlch M r . | Merkel | would | ask | me | t o r e a d |
| be | ser ious consequences | In | ordlnary | conmerce |
| I n | r e l a t l o n | t o | cases where people buy on | the | o r d i n a r y | market |
| goods | whlch | are | sold | \nth t rademarks | a f f lxed | t o | t hem. | A s |
| t he | peop le | who | buy | a t a u c t l o n | or | buy | bankrupt | s tocks | or |
| people | w h o buy | I n o t h e r | c i r c u m s t a n c e s , | i f | t h e y | a r e | t o | d e a l |
| with | them | a t a l l , t h e y | m u s t | d e a l w i t h | them under | the | name by |
| whlch t ey ln f r lng lng t r ademarks | are known. | If doing so, such | persons | were |
| I | have | a | s u s p i c l o n t h a t t h e r e | would | b e |
| some | r e l e v a n t a u t h o r l t y w h l c h | would | make | t h a t c l e a r . |
| If such people are n o t | l n f r l n g l n q | the | trademark | one |
| reason would be that once | a | manufacturer | puts | a | trademark on |
| h i s qocds | and | se11.3~ khem | Into the | c o u r s e | o f | t r a d e | on | t h e |
| h l l l o w ~ n g ocean | of | t rade, | wherever | people | bona | f lde | d e a l |
n .
| wlth | those | goods | unds r | t ha t | name | and by | re ference | t o | t h a t |
| t r ademark , | no | t | t c l l l nq | any | I l e s | or | mlslendlng | anyone | In | any |
| way | a t a l l , | t h e y | a r e | s l m p l y | n o t | l n f r l n q l n g | t h e | t r a d e m a r k . |
| They are not | "us lnq" | the | mark | i n | t h e | r e l e v a n t | s e n s e . | T'ne |
| A c t 1 s CO be read | by | cons ldera t lons | such | as | these | and | these |
| musc be the | cons jdera t lons | whlch | ultimately | s u p p o r t | t h e |
| Champagne Case. | Accordlngly, o n the whole I must | concede |
| t h a t the appllc?.nts | have | a | case | which | I see 1s arguable b u t |
| I | cons ide r | fo r | t he | r easons | which | I have | g lven | It | 1 s l l k e l y |
| t o be | found | wantlng. |
| When | I | come | t o t h e q u e s t l o n | of | whether | the | respondent | i s |
| c o n d u c t i n g | I t s e l f | I n | a | m l s l e a d i n g | f a s h i o n | i n | s t a t l n g | t h e |
| v a r r a n t l e s | t h a t | It | g l v e s , | I | am | n o t | s a t i s f l e d | t h a t | t h e |
| a p p l i c a n t ' s | c a s e | h a s | b e e n | e s t a b l i s h e d . | I t | i s | p e r f e c t l y |
| c l e a r | t h a t | t h e | r e s p o n d e n t | c a n n o t | g l v e | any | warranty | whlch |
| would | bind | Futuretronlcs | and | it does | not | seek | t o do SO. | I t |
| t e l l s | i t s | cus tomers | In | p la ln | l anguage | tha t | It | c a r r i e s | o u t |
| Its own warranty work | and | I n | e f f ec t | t e1 l . s | cus tomers | tha t | If |
| anythlng | goes | wrong wlth | t h e l r sets t o b r m g them back | and |
| a t | l e a s t | If they | do | so w1th1.n 90 days their compl.alnt will |
| b e d e a l t | w l t h and | the | u n l t | w l l l e l t h e r be | repalred | by | them |
| or w l l l be | rep laced . |
| T h a t ; | I n | e f f e c t , | IS | t h e | same | klnd | of | w a r r a n t y | t h a t |
| P u t u r e t r o n l c s | I t s e l f | q l v e s | t o | i t s | customers . | The | o n l y |
| dl€r 'erence | ?.$ | t h a t | F v C u r e t r o n l c s | make | 7.t | c o n d l t l o n a l | on |
9.
| ge t t lnq | back | t he | war | ran | ty | ca rd | whereas | Chc | respondent | does |
| no t . | Both | p a r t l e s | p u r p o r t | t o | exclude | any | 3mpljed | warranty. |
| Whether | t h a t | 1s | Intended | t o | e x c l u d e | t h e | w a r r a n t l c s | which |
| a r l s e u n d e r | t h e c o n d l t l o n s o f p a r t | 17 | of | the | Trade | Prac ' i lces |
| A c t one | does | not | know. | But | It ].S c l e a r | t h a t | t o p u r p o r t | t o |
| exclude | lmplled | warrant1.e~ | i s , | I n | t h e s e | d a y s , | m i s l e a d i n g . |
| The | p u b l l c | i s | c n t l t l e d | t o | know | t h a t | t h e r e | 1.s | a l e a y s | t h e s e |
| days a | war ran ty | o f | merchan tab i l l t y | or | q u a l l t y | I m p l i e d | b y |
| law. |
| I have | looked | a t a l l the affidavits whrrhlch have been f l l e d |
| a n d , | o f | c o u r s e , | o n e | r e a l l s e s | t h a t | t h e | whole | o f | t h l s |
| proceeding | a r l s e s | o u t | h e | f a c t | h a t | h e | a p p l l c a n t | 1 s |
| d l s tu rbed | t ha t | t he | r e sponden t | has | been | ab le | t o | a c q u l r s |
| substantial q u a l l t l e s of | these a r t i c l e s . | I t may have some |
| genuine | fear t h a t | t h e | r e s p o n d e n t h a s n o t | t h e | s k i l l | t o | c a r r y |
| o u t | t h e | r e p a l r s | w h i c h | a r e | l l k e l y | t o | be | r e q u l r e d | h y |
| customers, but the ev ldence | wou | ld | suqges t | t ha t | excep t | fo r |
| t h e | r e p a l r l n q | o f | w h a t | m ~ g h t | be | c a l l e d | t h e | i n c l d e n t a l | and |
| a n c i l l a r y f u n c t l o n s o f | the | TJCSs , | the | unl t s per rorm very | w e l l |
| and | it | i s | n o t v e r y l l k e l y t h a t I n | 90 | days | many | o f t h e u n i t s |
| are | l l k e l y t o be | found | defect | lve | In | what | mlqht | be | desc r ibed |
| as | the l r | fundamen ta l s . | If | t h e y | a r e , | t h e n | o n e | would | oubt |
| thc | competence | of | F u t u r e t r o n i c s | o r | a n y | b u t | a | very | I lmi.ted |
| number of | sk1.1led | persons | l.? | A u s t r a l l a | t o | r e p a l r | them | znd, |
| goi-nq on | coxTon | knowledge, | t o endeavourr | t o u n r a v e l | t h e |
| t ang led | c l r - cu l t ry | of | t h e | m a g l c d l | c l r c u l t s | o f | t h e s e | u ~ l l t s . |
| I t would n o t be commercially rational, one | would | l u s t |
| throw | t h e | u n l t | away | and | rep lzce | lt wlth allother one. | Thls |
| i s | what Futnre t ronlcs seen | t.o | sugqest mlght happen and | lt | 1 s |
| what | would | happen | with | the | respondent. |
| T h e | m a t t e r | h a s | come | l l q h t | t o | b e c a u s e | t h e | o f |
| adve r t l s emen t s | by | Pu tu re t ron lc s | o f f e r lng | t h ree | ad r l l t l ona l |
| c a r t x l d g e s | t o p e o p l e | who | have | bought | an | Atar l | VCS | fro21 | any |
| shop, | any | shop | In | Aus t ra l la , | p rovided | however | tha t | the |
| warran ty | card | be | r e t u r n e d | t o F u t u r e t r o n i c s . | One | c a n n o t h e l p |
| b u t | f e e l | t h a t a t | l e a s t | one | ob jvec t lve | of | t h l s was | t o | f l u s h |
| o u t | t he peop ie | who | had purchased unl t s | from | t r a d e r s | lJke | t h e |
| respondent | who | i s s u e | no warran ty card . |
| I t | 1 s | o n l y | n a t u r a l | t h a t | p e o p l e | who | p u r c h a s e d | f r o m |
| F a l r s t a r , | knowlng | t h a t | F a i . r s t a r | d i d | i t s | own | s e r v i c i n q , |
| lcnowlng t h a t It had | no | warranty | f rom | Futuretronics | or | f rom |
| A t a r l , | f e l t | t h a t | s | the | goods | were | Atar l | goods , | tha t |
| Fa l rs ta r | were | very | busy | se l l lng | Atar | l | goods | and | should | seek |
| t o | g e t | h e | t h r e e | f r e e | c a r t r l d g e s . | They | c o u l d | n o t | g e t | the |
| three | c a r t r l d g e s | b u t | the | f a c t | h a i | t h e y | w e r e | disappointed |
| was | r e a l l y d u e | t o | t h e | f o r m | o f F a l r s t a r ' s a d v e r t l s e m e n t w h i c h |
| lnvl ted | everybody, | wherever | they | had | pu rchased | t he l r | un l t s |
| t o | apply. | ||||||
|
| I | d o n o t f i n d t h a t | t h e r e | has | been any r ea l | In t e r f e rence | wlth |
11..
| t h e | qoodwl.11 | of | the | a p p l l c a n t s . | The | a p p l l c a n t s ’ business | IS |
| so- t remendous | tha t | the | smal.1 | l r r l t a t l o n s | whlch | ave | been |
| caused | t o | some | c u s t o m e r s , | l a r g e l y | h r o u q h t | a b o u t | b y | h e |
| conduct | of | F u t u r e t r o n l . c s | l t s e l f , | has been m l n i m a l . | There | 1 s |
| no evldence that any person | who has purchased | a VCS from t h e |
| r e sponden t | has | been | d l s sa t l s f i ed | w i t h | t h e | a r t l c l e | ~n | any |
| r e s p e c t . | I n | some | c a s e s | t h e | 90 | day | pe r lod | has | exp l r ed , | In |
| o t h e r | c a s e s | It IS explrxng | rapldly. | Rut , | of | c o u r s e , | I n | a l l |
| c a s e s | t h e | s t a t u t o r y | w a r r a n t y | wlll | p e r s l s t | and | people | who |
| h a v e g o t undoubtedly | s o m e t h l n q | t h a t | 1 s | f u n d a m e n t a l l y | b a d | w l 1 . l |
| recelve | new machlnes | In | p lace | thereof . | But one |
| lmagxnes | t h a t | h e | q u a l l . t y | of | t h e s e | a r t l c l e s | i s | s u c h | t h a t |
| fundamental defects | are n o t l l k e l y | t o be | numerous. |
| There | 1s a | p r o s p e c t | t h a t | t h l s c a s e | w l l l come | on | I n | March |
| and | d m e c t i o n s | t o | t h a t e f f e c t h a v e b e e n a p p l l e d f o r a n d h a v e |
| been | granted. | If | the | respondent | were | res t ra ined | from |
| t r a d i n g | l n | t h e s e | a r t l c l e s | d u r l n g | t h e | n e x t | t h r e e | m o n t h s | h e |
| would | be | r e s t r a i n e d | I n | r e l a t i o n | t o a b o u t o n e q u a r t e r | of | hxs |
| t o t a l | t u r n o v e r . | I | certainly | f e e l | t h a t | t h e o n l y b a s l s | r e a l l y |
| on | whlch | an | I n j u n c t i o n c o u l d b e s o u g h t i n t h i s c a s e | would | b e |
| I n | r e l a t l o n | t o | t h e | t r a d e m a r k . | I t | is | my | g e n e r a l v l e w | t h a t | I n |
| t h e | end | t h e | p r o b a b i l l t l e s | a r e | t h a t | t h e | a p p l l c a n t s ’ | c a s e | o | n |
| tha t | g round | will not | succeed. | Of | course it 1s obvious | from |
| what | I | h a v e | s a l d | t h a t | It | w l l l r e q u i r e | f u l l | c o n s l d e r a t l o n a t |
| t h e | t r l a l . |
1 2
| Therefore , | I | t h l n k | t h a t | t h e | damaqe | t o | t h e | applicants by |
| t h e | r e f u s a l | o f | an | l n j u n c t l o n , | wlll | cause | l t no | I r r e p a r a b l e |
| harm and u l t l m a t e l y | Indeed | mlnlnlal | harm | In | a y | respect | should | It |
| h e | s u c c e s s f u l | I n | I ts | a c t l o n | to | r e s t r a l n | t h e |
| respondent | from | s e l l l n g | t h e | u n i t s | a t | a l l . | On | the | o t h e r |
| hand, | such | a | r e s t r a l n t a t | thls | tune | wlll | g r e a t l y a f f e c t | t h e |
| r e s p o n d e n t ’ s b u s l n e s s | over | a | c r l t l c a l | t m e of | t h e y e a r . |
| The | respondent | has | consented | t o | glve | an | u n d e r t a k i n g | t h a t |
| he | w l l l I n | r e s p e c t | of | all | f u t u r e | s a l e s | a t t a c h | t o | t h e | g o o d s |
| 0 | or | de l lve r | i n | connec t lon wl th | the goods | a | warran ty | i n terms |
| whlch have | b en | submltted | t o | t h e | c o u r t | a n d | upon | tha t |
| undertaking | belng | glven, | I | v r l l l | r e f r a l n | from | glv ing | any |
r e l l e f by any ln t e r locu to ry o rde r s such a s has been sough t .
| I defence t o be glven 2 8 days from th ls d a t e . | w l l l | ad jou rn | t he | summons | l n d e f m l t e l y . | I | order | a |
I order t h a t
| t h e | n u t u a l | d i s c o v e r y | w i t h o u t | n o t l c e s | 1 4 | d a y s | a f t e r | the |
| d e f e n c e | h a s | b e e n | d e l i v e r e d . | I n t e r r o g a t o f l e s | may | be |
| 0 | d e l l v e r e d | 1 4 | d a y s | a f t e r | d l s c o v e r y | or | r a t h e r | s h a l l | be |
| d e l l v e r e d | n o t | la ter | t h a n | 7 | d a y s | a f t e r | d l s c o v e r y : | T h a t | t h e r e |
| be | answers wlthln | 14 | days | of | the d e l l v e r y of | i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s |
| and | t h a t | h e | p a r t l e s | c o n s u l t | w l t h | t h e | registrar | as | t o | a n |
| e a r l y | h e a r a n g | I n | t h e | New | Year | and | t h a t | t h e r e b e | l l b e r t y | to |
| e l t h e r p a r t y ques t lon o f cos t s o f | t o | a p p l y | a s | It may be ailvlsed. | I r e s e r v e the | i |
| these | proceedinqs. |
: ,
13.
I also order that the respondent. untll the hearlng and
determlnatlon of the actlon keep the following accounts and
records:
An account of the proflt made by the respondent by the lmportatlon and sale of the vldeo computer systems and cartrldges bearlng and/or under and/or
| In relatlon to the sald trademarks or any | of them. |
An account and record of any and/or sums recelved by the respondent as a result of the sale by it of the said cartrldges bearing and/or under and/or in relation to the said trademarks or any of them.
An account and record of the cost CO the respondent of the Importatxon and sale of all the sa3.d cartrldges sold by the respondent bearlng
| and/or under and/or In relatlon | to | the sald |
| trademarks or any of them. |
0
0