Review Australia Pty Ltd v New
Cover Group Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 1589
FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA
KENNY J
KENNY J:
1
Review Australia Pty Ltd
(“Review”) is the owner of Design Registration No 307708 (“the Review Design”)
under the Designs Act 2003 (Cth) (“the Designs Act”). As explained in Review 2 Pty Ltd v Redberry
Enterprise Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 1588 (“Redberry”), Review acquired the Review Design from Review 2 Pty Ltd (in
liquidation) (“Review 2”) on 28 February 2007 as part of a corporate
restructure.
2
This is an action for design
infringement and a cross-claim for design invalidity. For the reasons stated
below, I would uphold the claim for design infringement and dismiss the
cross-claim for invalidity.
3
In its statement of claim,
Review alleges that the respondents – New Cover Group Pty Ltd (“New Cover”), Maco Collection Pty Ltd (“Maco”)
and/or Biguang Pan – have made, imported and sold
garments in infringement of the Review Design. Since Mr Pan has never been
served with the initiating process (or any other document in the proceeding),
Review now seeks no relief against him. Various forms of relief are sought against New Cover and Maco,
including declaratory and injunctive relief, and damages. As in Redberry, there
are three principal questions: (1) have the respondents infringed the Review
Design? (2) Is the Review Design valid? (3) If yes to these two questions, how
should damages be assessed?
4
In accordance with orders made
on 13 December 2007, the evidence in proceeding VID 286 of 2007 (Redberry) in so far as it relates to the Review Design is also
evidence in this proceeding. The trials in Redberry and that part of the
present proceeding that concerns the Review Design took place together. This
leaves for the future the trial in this proceeding with respect to the alleged
infringement of registered design No 306802.
5
New Cover and Maco were unrepresented at trial. The Court gave Ms Yasemin Dolcel leave to tender on
their behalf the affidavits, with exhibits, that had already
been filed (subject to Review’s objections as to admissibility). These
affidavits were the affidavit of Ms Dolcel sworn on 5
November 2007, and the affidavits of Wei Hong Meng
(also known as Jim Meng) sworn on 5 November 2007, 24
September 2007 and 4 February 2008. The following were not relevant in this
part of the proceeding: paragraphs 18 and 19 and parts
of paragraphs 24 to 26 of Mr Meng’s 24 September 2007
affidavit; paragraphs 15 to 20 of Mr Meng’s 5 November
2007 affidavit; and paragraphs 8 and 9 of Mr Meng’s 4
February 2008 affidavit. The following paragraphs were inadmissible: paragraphs
21, 23 (parts), 27 and 28 of Mr Meng’s 24 September
2007 affidavit; paragraphs 24 to 38 of Mr Meng’s 5
November 2007 affidavit; and paragraphs 4, 5, 7 and 10 of Mr Meng’s 4 February 2008. Notwithstanding that
Review gave notice that Mr Meng was required for
cross-examination, Mr Meng did not attend Court. I
bear this in mind in determining the weight to be given
to his affidavit evidence.
6
As depicted on the Register and
in the Certificate of Registration, the Review Design is for a sleeveless,
cross-over (or fixed-wrap) dress, having:
·
a V-Neck
made by a cross-over from left to right over a right to left cross-over;
·
a left to
right cross-over from shoulder to the left side of the waist with gathering on
the left side of the waist;
·
some
gathering on both shoulders;
·
figure
hugging effect to the waist with a brown ribbon sash tying around a fixed
waist;
·
a square
high back;
·
a
panelled skirt (3 panels in the front and panels in the back);
·
a hem
knee-length or below the knee;
·
a figure
hugging skirt for over half the way to the hem, when it sharply expands, so
that the dress at the hem has a ruffled effect; and
·
a
patterned fabric in natural tones with orange, brown and blue fine ‘fronds
leaf’ pattern, with an African or tropical look.
7
Review is a designer and
retailer of women’s clothing, especially for what it describes as fashion
conscious women in their 20s and 30s. In January 2005, Review 2 operated 12
retail stores where it sold its clothing and accessories under the “Review”
name. It also sold its clothing under the “Review” name at about 10 sites
within the Myer Grace Bros stores. At trial in February 2008, Review operated
17 Review retail stores and 23 Myer concessions. Review clothing was sold exclusively in these stores and sites, and was not
available elsewhere. Review designed 95% to 97% of the goods that it sold.
8
In July 2005, Ms Jayne Ellis,
then a director and designer for Review 2, designed a dress with style number
R7811 for retail distribution by Review 2. The design for the dress (“the
Review Dress”) was included in a number of representations that were the
subject of a design application made by Review 2. The application, which was made on 11 August 2005 pursuant to s 21 of the Designs
Act, resulted in the grant of registration for the Review Design. The Registrar
recorded the product to which the Review Design related as “ladies garments”. There
was no statement of newness and distinctiveness provided. The Review Design was certified as examined on 25 October 2006. A dress made
to the Review Design retailed for $169.95.
9
On 14 September 2006, at a
warehouse at 140 Langridge Street, Collingwood in Victoria, an employee of
Review purchased garments labelled “Spicy Sugar” with style numbers 050620-2SS
and 050620SS (“the Spicy Sugar garments”) from New
Cover. The price paid for style 050620-2SS was $20.00 and, for style 050620SS,
$17.00. Review alleges that the Spicy Sugar garments are substantially similar
in overall impression to the Review Design.
10
Maco is the registered proprietor of the business name “Spicy Sugar”. Ms
Dolcel described Maco as
“an Australian designer, importer and wholesaler of [ladies’] fashion
garments”. Her evidence was that “[p]reparation, styling and research of [Maco’s] clothing ranges is [sic] done in Australia and the
sampling, grading and manufacturing of the garments is [sic] carried out at the
Maco Collection Guangzhou, China office”. Ms Dolcel said, and I accept, that Maco
subsequently sold its garments through its wholesale outlet store in Australia.
Mr Meng also described New Cover as a designer,
importer and wholesaler of ladies’ fashion garments. His
evidence as to the operation of New Cover was equivalent to Ms Dolcel’s evidence about Maco: see
Mr Meng’s affidavits of 5 November 2007 and 24
September 2007.
11
The business operations of New
Cover and Maco are evidently
intertwined to such an extent as to justify the two companies being
treated in the same way in this proceeding. The labels under which New Cover
and Maco sold their garments were evidently the same
or virtually the same, including Spicy Sugar, Rose Burg, Tea Berry, Tea Berry
Gold and New Cover: compare Ms Dolcel’s affidavit of
29 October 2007 (filed in Redberry) and Mr Meng’s affidavit
of 24 September 2007 (filed in this proceeding). Ms Dolcel
described herself as the business development manager for Maco
(29 October 2007 affidavit) and as New Cover’s full-time business development
manager (5 November 2007 affidavit). In evidence in chief, Ms Dolcel described herself as “[b]usiness
development manager for the New Cover Group, aka Maco
Collection Group”, having the same identity. This was consistent with Mr Meng’s affidavit of 24 September 2007 (par 3). Ms Dolcel’s evidence was that she promoted New Cover/Maco styles to New Cover and Maco
customers. These clients included “other fashion boutique retailers, fashion
agents and major chain retailers”. Ms Dolcel did not
suggest that New Cover’s customers were different from Maco’s
customers.
12
The solicitors for Review wrote
to New Cover about the sale and purchase of the Spicy Sugar garments on 26
September 2006 and 9 January 2007, before this proceeding was
begun. They also wrote to Maco on 6 December
2006 and 24 January 2007. In a statement of claim dated 10 April 2007, Review
specifically alleged that New Cover and Maco had,
without its licence or authority, made, imported and sold garments embodying a
design that was substantially similar in overall impression to the Review
Design.
13
The Spicy Sugar garments are
sleeveless fixed-wrap or cross-over dresses. The
fabric from which they are made crosses over at the
neckline (creating a V-neck) in the same way as the Review Design and falls
down to the left side of the waist, where the fabric is gathered. The dresses
have gathering at the shoulders just like the Review Design. The Spicy Sugar
dresses each have a fitted waist and a square high back. Each has a satin
ribbon as a waist tie. The Spicy Sugar dresses all have the same skirt. This
skirt has three panels at the front and back and is figure hugging for over
half the way to the hem, when it expands, so that the dress at the hem has a
ruffled effect. The skirt is to or just below the knee. The Spicy Sugar
garments differ in two respects only. Style 050620-2SS is in a black
‘sunflower’ on white background fabric, with a black satin ribbon waist tie. Style
050620SS is all black, with a red satin ribbon waist tie.
14
A defence was
filed only in New Cover’s name. It was, however, evident from their
conduct of the proceeding that the defence was intended to relate not only to
New Cover but also to Maco. I have treated it this
way, as, indeed, Review, in substance, invited me to do.
15
New Cover/Maco
admits that New Cover/Maco has imported the Spicy
Sugar garments into Australia, where New Cover/Maco
sold or offered to sell them; and that this has been done
without the licence or authority of Review. New Cover/Maco
denied the balance of Review’s claims, including that New Cover/Maco made the Spicy Sugar garments and that the Spicy Sugar
garments were substantially similar in overall impression to the Review Design.
Further, New Cover/Maco claimed that, at the time of
the alleged infringements, New Cover/Maco was/were
not aware and could not reasonably have been expected
to be aware that the Review Design was registered. New Cover/Maco further alleged that New Cover/Maco
had not sold the Spicy Sugar garments or offered them for sale since around
October/November 2006. In a cross-claim, New Cover/Maco
alleged that the Review Design was invalid and that the registration should be expunged from the register.
INFRINGEMENT
16
The Designs Act, which came
into effect on 17 June 2004, replaced the Designs
Act 1906 (Cth). The Designs Act provides for a
system of registration for products whose appearance is new and distinctive.
17
The registered owner of a
registered design has a number of exclusive rights during the term of the
registration of the design, including to make a product, in relation to which
the design is registered, which embodies the design; to import such a product
into Australia for sale; and to sell such a product: see the Designs Act, s 10.
Design, in relation to a product, is defined in the
Designs Act as “the overall appearance of the product resulting from one or
more visual features of the product”: see s 5. In the Designs Act, visual
feature, in relation to a product, includes shape, configuration, pattern and
ornamentation of the product: see ss 7 and 8. These
are the features to be borne in mind in forming a view about the overall
appearance of the product (in this case, a garment) as it appears on the design
register. The Designs Act (in s 7(3)) specifically provides that neither
the feel of the product nor the materials used in the product are visual features
of the product.
18
Under the Designs Act, a design
is a registrable design if the design is new and distinctive when compared with
the prior art base for the design as it existed before
the priority date of the design: see s 15(1). The prior art base, which is defined in s 15(2), includes designs published
within and outside Australia. A design is new unless it is identical to a
design that forms part of the prior art base for the design, and distinctive
unless it is substantially similar in overall impression to a design that forms
part of the prior art base for the design: see s 16(1) and (2).
19
Under the Designs Act, a design
is a registrable design if the design is new and distinctive when compared with
the prior art base for the design as it existed before
the priority date of the design: see s 15(1). The prior art base, which is defined in s 15(2), includes designs published
within and outside Australia. A design is new unless it is identical to a
design that forms part of the prior art base for the design, and distinctive
unless it is substantially similar in overall impression to a design that forms
part of the prior art base for the design: see s 16(1) and (2).
20
Review alleges, and New Cover/Maco denies, that New Cover/Maco
made, imported and sold the Spicy Sugar garments. The respondents’ position was
that New Cover/Maco imported and sold women’s
clothing. As noted in Redberry,
the question whether New Cover/Maco made Spicy Sugar
garments, as opposed to importing and selling them, does not affect the outcome
of Review’s principal allegation that New Cover/Maco
has infringed the Review Design. It affects the discussion of s 75(2) of
the Designs Act, below.
21
The Spicy Sugar garments will
infringe the Review Design if they embody a design that is substantially
similar in overall impression to the Review Design: compare the Designs Act,
s 71(1)(a). In determining whether a design is
substantially similar in overall impression to a registered design, the factors
in s 19 fall for consideration: see s 71(3). Section 19 provides:
(1) If a person is required
by this Act to decide whether a design is substantially similar in overall
impression to another design, the person making the decision is to give more
weight to similarities between the designs than to differences between them.
(2)
The
person must also:
(a) have regard to the
state of development of the prior art base for the design; and
(b) if the design
application in which the design was disclosed included a statement (a statement
of newness and distinctiveness) identifying particular visual features of the
design as new and distinctive:
(i) have particular regard to those features; and
(ii) if those features relate to only part of
the design – have particular regard to that part of the design, but in the
context of the design as a whole; and
(c) if only part of the design is substantially similar to another
design, have regard to the amount, quality and importance of that part in the
context of the design as a whole; and
(d) have regard to the freedom of the creator of the design to innovate.
(3)
If the
design application in which the design was disclosed
did not include a statement of newness and distinctiveness in respect of
particular visual features of the design, the person must have regard to the
appearance of the design as a whole.
(4)
In
applying subsections (1), (2) and (3), the person must apply the standard of a
person who is familiar with the product to which the design relates, or
products similar to the product to which the design relates (the standard of
the informed user).
(5)
In this
section, a reference to a person includes a reference to a court.
Since there was no statement of newness and distinctiveness in the
Review Design application, s 19(3) of the Designs Act applies. In
considering whether a design embodied in the Spicy Sugar garments is
substantially similar in overall impression to the Review Design, the Court is
therefore obliged to consider the appearance of the Review Design as a whole,
considered by reference to the standard of the informed user.
22
I refer to my discussion of the
standard of the informed user in Redberry. As stated in Redberry, the informed user must
be a person who is familiar with the product to which the design in question
relates. The informed user
must also be a user of the class of
product in question, in this case, ladies’ garments,
or perhaps, more narrowly, ladies’ dresses. A designer or manufacturer of such
garments is not an informed user merely because he or
she designs or manufactures them. Further, this user is not simply an ordinary
consumer: the user must be an informed
user.
23
As also noted
in Redberry,
the Australian Law Reform Commission’s Report
No 74, Designs (Sydney, 1995)
(“ALRC Report No 74”) and the Designs Act which implemented it (see Explanatory
Memorandum to the Designs Bill 2002
at 1) borrowed the concept of the informed user from the European Community
design law: see ALRC Report No 74, at 5.17 - 5.21, 6.12 and 6.13. ALRC Report No 74, at 5.17, described the informed user as “a
person who is reasonably familiar with the nature, appearance and use of
products of the relevant kind”. I refer to but do not repeat the other parts of
the Report’s discussion of the informed user standard, which are set out in Redberry: see
ALRC Report No 74, at 5.18, 5.19, 5.21 and 6.13.
24
Since the informed user
standard has been adopted by the Registered
Designs Act 1949 (UK), the explanation of the standard by courts in the UK
provides some guidance. In Redberry, I referred to the exposition of the informed user
standard in Woodhouse UK Plc v
Architectural Lighting Systems [2006] RPC 1 (“Architectural Lighting”). In this case, his Honour Judge Fysh QC (at [50]) defined the concept of an informed user
as follows:
First, this notional person must
obviously be a user of articles of
the sort which is subject of the registered design –
and I would think, a regular user at that. He could thus be a consumer or buyer
or be otherwise familiar with the subject matter say, through use at work. The
quality smacks of practical considerations. In my view
the informed user is first, a person to whom the design is directed. Evidently he is not a manufacturer of the articles and both
counsel roundly rejected the candidature of ‘the man in the street’. ‘Informed’ to my mind adds a notion of
familiarity with the relevant rather more than what one might expect of the
average consumer; it imports the notion of ‘what’s about in the market?’ and
‘what has been about in the recent past?’. I do not think it requires an archival mind (or
eye) or more than an average memory but it does I think demand some awareness
of product trend and availability and some knowledge of basic technical
considerations (if any). In connection with the latter, one must not forget
that we are in the territory of designs and thus what matters most is the
appearance of things; as Mr Davis reminded me, these are not petty patents.
Therefore, focus on eye appeal seems more pertinent than familiarity with the
underlying operational or manufacturing technology (if any). I feel
uncomfortable with analogy to the ‘man skilled in the art’ whose ‘nerd-like’
(and other) attributes seem too technical: Technip France SA’s Patent [2004] R.P.C. 46 at [6-12] (CA). (Emphasis
originan( �span style='mso-spacerun:yes'>
The properly informed eye of
the court must make its decision as a matter of degree – as a matter of overall
impression: see Architectural Lighting
at [52].
25
As noted in Redberry, in Proctor
& Gamble Co v Reckitt Benckiser (UK) Ltd [2006] EWHC 3154; [2007] FSR
13 (“Proctor & Gamble Co v Reckitt
Benckiser”) at [31] et seq, where Lewison J (Chancery Division – Patents Court) considered
and approved the Architectural Lighting
observations, as did the Court of Appeal: see Proctor & Gamble Company v Reckitt Benckiser (UK) Ltd [2007]
EWCACIV 936; (2007) 73 IPR 605 (“Proctor
& Gamble”) at [24], [25], [32] per Jacob LJ, with whom May and Dyson
LJJ agreed. Jacob LJ noted (at [28]) “the
informed user is alert to design issues and is better informed than the average
consumer in trade mark law”.
26
As also noted
in Redberry,
in January 2007, the Design Registrar of the UK Intellectual Property Office
had cited and applied the Architectural
Lighting ‘informed user’ analysis in ruling on the validity of a clothing
design registration: see Application by
Pauline Ann Walton to invalidate UK Registered Design in the name of Zap Ltd
(UK IPO, 0-027-07, 22 January 2007) (“Walton”).
27
In Walton, the applicant sought to invalidate a poncho design
registered by Zap Ltd (“Zap”) on the grounds that it lacked novelty, in part
because it copied her earlier poncho designs: see Walton at [3], [32]. Zap defended on the grounds
that the basic design of the poncho had long been known, and thus there
was limited freedom to design: see [15]. Applying his Honour
Judge Fysh QC’s definition of informed user, as
approved by Lewison J in Proctor & Gamble Co v Reckitt Benckiser (Walton at [36]-[37]), the Registrar accepted Zap’s submissions,
concluding “I believe that an informed user would be aware that there is
limited freedom to design a poncho which is not basically square or rectangular
in shape”: see Walton at [40]; also
at [43]. Based primarily on a difference in neck design, the Registrar
found that the Zap design would in fact create a different overall impression
on an informed user and thus it was validly registered: see Walton at [39]-[45].
28
As noted in Redberry, the Australian Designs
Office (“ADO”) considered the informed user standard in Re Application in the name of Apple Computer Inc
(2007) 74 IPR 164 (“Apple”) and Icon Plastics Pty Ltd [2007] ADO 2 (5
July 2007) (“Icon”): see Icon at [19], [21] and Apple at [11], [14]. I refer to, but do
not repeat, the more detailed discussion of Apple
and Icon in Redberry.
29
In
summary, the standard of the informed user is an objective one. In this case,
the assessment must be that of a user
of ladies’ garments, which would include a potential
purchaser, either in retail sales (such as a buyer for a fashion store) or at
the ultimate consumer level. A designer or manufacturer of ladies’
garments is not, on account of design or manufacturing knowledge alone, an
informed user. The notional user must be informed, in the sense that the user
is familiar with ladies’ garments. The informed user
is not an expert, but must be more than barely informed. The focus for
consideration is on eye appeal and not on internal or less visible
manufacturing features.
30
As
noted in Redberry,
there may be a difference in the discussion to date as to what is needed to have the requisite product familiarity. On one
view, this familiarity is greater than the information possessed by the average
user; on another view, this familiarity is that which is
possessed by the ordinary user: compare Architectural Lighting at [50] with Apple at [14]. I indicated in Redberry, for the reasons stated
there, that I preferred the former approach. I doubt that, generally, the
ordinary user will be appropriately regarded as an
informed user.
31
Review’s claim that the Spicy
Sugar garments (see PS 10 and PS 11 to the affidavit of Peter Strain of 20
September 2007) are substantially similar in overall impression to the Review
Design should be upheld. In reaching this conclusion,
I have had regard to the evidence of Ms Ellis, particularly that referred to in
Redberry at
[29]-[30]. As noted in Redberry, as a designer
rather than an informed user, Ms Ellis’s evidence
assists in identifying the basis of Review’s claim on infringement and, to a
limited extent, the similarities and differences between the Review Design and
the design embodied in each of the Spicy Sugar garments – although, in this
case especially, a great deal is self-evident. For present purposes, however, I
disregard her evidence about points of construction and interior similarities
and differences as not relevant to the issue of infringement.
32
In
this connection too, I have also had regard to the evidence of Ms Ella Mudie, since this was,
pursuant to order, also to be treated as evidence in this proceeding: see Redberry at
[31]-[34]. As stated in Redberry,
Ms Mudie was in the nature
of an informed user and was a careful and truthful witness. As explained in Redberry, I found
her evidence helpful, notwithstanding the criticisms leveled at it by the
applicants in that case. Although some of Ms Mudie’s evidence was specifically directed to an analysis
of the Redberry garment as compared with the Review
Design (and this is plainly not relevant here) other parts of her evidence
assist in placing the Court in the shoes of the informed user. Thus, Ms Mudie’s evidence was that,
from her perspective, the overall appearance of a dress was
principally determined by style, cut, fit, colour/print,
and materials. This led Ms Mudie
to identify two distinct differences between the Review Dress (and indirectly
the design that it embodied) and Redberry dress,
being their skirts, and the patterns and colours. Of
course, as I stated in Redberry,
the Court does not simply adopt Ms Mudie’s
assessment as its own, but makes its own objective determination. The Court must, of course, make the same sort of
assessment in this case.
33
Considered by
reference to the standard of the informed user, in deciding whether the design
embodied in each of the Spicy Sugar garments is substantially similar in
overall impression to the Review Design, the Court must: (1) give more weight
to similarities between the designs in question than to differences (s 19(1));
(2) have regard to the state of development of the prior art base for the
Review Design (s 19(2(a)); and (3) have regard to the freedom of the
designer to innovate (s 19(2)(d)). There
are, plainly enough, differences between the patterns as depicted in the design
as compared with the two styles of the Spicy Sugar garments. Hence, only part
of the design embodied in each style of the Spicy Sugar garments is substantially
similar to the Review Design, with the consequence that the Court must have
regard to the amount, quality and importance of that part in the context of the
design considered as a whole (s 19(2)(c)). Furthermore, since the design
application for the Review Design did not include a statement of newness and
distinctiveness, the Court must have regard to the appearance of the Review
Design as a whole (s 19(3)).
34
The similarities between the
Review Design and the design embodied in each of the two styles of the Spicy
Sugar garments are self-evident. The cross-over bodice
and V-neck is identical, or virtually identical. All have a fixed waist, with a
satin ribbon tie. All have the same high back. In this case too, the Review
Design skirt and the skirts in the designs embodied in the Spicy Sugar garments
are identical, or virtually so. The Review Design and the designs embodied in
the Spicy Sugar garments differ only as to pattern (including colour).
35
Similarities between the
designs are to be given greater weight than the differences
(s 19(1)). As noted in Redberry, however, in deciding whether the design embodied
in each style of the Spicy Sugar garments is substantially similar in overall
impression to the Review Design, the Court must also have regard to the prior
art base, considered by reference to the standard of the informed user. That
is, the significance of the similarities and differences between designs falls
to be considered in light of the prior art, as discussed in Redberry. In that case, I
concluded that, having regard
to the prior art and the freedom of the designer to innovate, what gave the
Review Design its different overall impression from the prior art, from the
perspective of the informed user, was the shape and configuration of the skirt,
combined with differences in pattern and ornamentation.
36
Redberry stated that this
conclusion was significant for the question of infringement, more particularly
as the Court, by reference to the informed user standard, reaches its
conclusion on infringement having regard to the amount, quality and importance
of that part of the challenged design that is substantially similar to the
Review Design in the context of the Review Design as a whole. As noted above, in this case in contrast
to Redberry,
save for the pattern (and colour), each of the styles
of the Spicy Sugar garments embodies a design that is substantially similar (if
not identical) to the Review Design. In this case, having
regard to the directions in ss 19(1), (2)(a), (c) and
(d), 19(3) and 19(4), the informed user would conclude that the design embodied
in each style of the Spicy Sugar garments is substantially similar in overall
impression to the Review Design considered as a whole, principally because of
the identity in the shape, configuration and ornamentation. Whilst, for
the reasons explained in Redberry,
differences in pattern (including colour) cannot be ignored, having regard to the statutory
directions, these differences are insufficient in this case to create a
different overall impression. Review’s case on infringement therefore succeeds.
37
As I said in Redberry, the
fact that a design is registered in colour through the use of
colour photographs (unaccompanied by a statement of newness and
distinctiveness) is relevant to determining the extent of the monopoly sought
and given. Everything that is shown in the registered
design (unless disclaimed in some way) forms part of the subject matter
protected by registration. The pattern (including colour) that is shown on the Review Design as registered is thus part of
what is protected, and is to be accorded some weight. In this regard, I refer
to my discussion in Redberry
at [47]-[52]. How much weight is to be given to pattern (and colour) will
depend on the nature of the product and the relative importance of the
different visual features of the registered design, as viewed by the informed
user standard, having regard to the prior art, and the freedom of the designer
to innovate. If colour is important, it will be so because the factors relevant
to the registered design lead to this conclusion. As indicated in Redberry,
pattern, including colour, is a feature that an informed user would consider
important in creating the overall impression of the Review Design, a conclusion
borne out by the use of colour photographs to depict the design in the
registration application. In the case of the two styles of the Spicy Sugar
garments, however, the differences as regards this feature are
overborne by the identity of other visual features, with the result that
the design embodied in each style is substantially similar in overall
impression to the Review Design.
INVALIDITY
38
For the reasons stated in Redberry at [55]-[60], I reject the proposition
advanced by New Cover/Maco that the Review Design was
invalidly registered because it was not new and distinctive when compared with
the prior art base as it existed before the priority date of the Design.
DAMAGES
39
In Review’s Outline of
Submissions dated 1 February 2008, Review sought:
(a) general damages
for loss of profits in the sum of $103,509.20;
(b) general damages for damage to reputation of $200,000; and
(c) additional damages
of $50,000.
40
Damages or an account of
profits may, at the plaintiff’s option, be granted for infringement: see
s 75(1)(b) of the Designs Act. Subsections 75(2)
to (5) further provide:
(2) The court may refuse to award damages,
reduce the damages that would otherwise be awarded, or
refuse to make an order for an account of profits, if the defendant satisfies
the court:
(a) in the case of
primary infringement:
(i) that at the time of the infringement, the defendant was not
aware that the design was registered; and
(ii) that before that
time, the defendant had taken all reasonable steps to ascertain whether the
design was registered; or
(b) in the case of
secondary infringement – that at the time of the infringement, the defendant
was not aware, and could not reasonably have been expected to be aware, that
the design was registered.
(3) The court may award such additional damages
as it considers appropriate, having regard to the flagrancy of the infringement
and all other relevant matters.
(4) It is prima facie evidence that the
defendant was aware that the design was registered if the product embodying the
registered design to which the infringement proceedings relate, or the
packaging of the product, is marked so as to indicate
registration of the design.
(5) In this section:
primary infringement means
infringement of a kind mentioned in paragraph 71(1)(a).
secondary infringement means
infringement of a kind mentioned in paragraph 71(1)(b), (c), (d) or (e).
41
I turn first to Review’s claim
for general damages. Save for an exercise of discretion under s 75(2) of
the Designs Act, Review is entitled to an amount representing general damages
for the infringement. The measure of damages here is the diminution in the
value of the design as a chose in action, which is reflected in loss of sales
and injury to reputation and the like: see Prior
v Lansdowne Press Pty Ltd [1977] VR 65 (“Prior v Lansdowne”) at 70 per Gowans J.
42
Review claimed general damages
in an amount of $103,509.20 upon the basis of lost sales. As in Redberry, Review
invited the Court to calculate general damages on the assumption that every
sale by New Cover/Maco should be
treated as if it had been a sale by Review of the Review Dress (and on
the assumption that New Cover/Maco sold all 730
imported Spicy Sugar garments in style 050620-2SS). If the Court were to assess
damages on this simple assumption, then the ultimate figure would need to be discounted to reflect the likelihood that Review would
have made the additional sales had the New Cover/Maco
garments not entered the market. Mr Meng and Ms Dolcel said that New Cover/Maco
sold garments to “boutique fashion shop buyers” and “exclusive development
customers”. That is, New Cover/Maco made wholesale
sales to retailers in probable competition with Review. Mr Meng
also said that New Cover/Maco customers made retail
sales at “a mark up of anything between 100 to 250%
on top of a garments wholesale price”. If this were true, then the Spicy Sugar
garments sold at substantially less than the Review Dress. In weighing this
latter statement, I bear in mind that Mr Meng failed
to attend for cross-examination. The result is that I find that the likelihood
of a retailer buying the New Cover/Maco garments and
the garments being purchased by a retail customer instead of the Review Dress
(if available: see below) relatively high. If I assessed damages on the
assumption that Review invited me to make, I would discount the figure of
$103,509.20 by about 30% to reflect this, resulting in the
amount of $72,456.44.
43
As it happens, however,
Review’s analysis does not withstand scrutiny. This is because there is no
evidence of lost sales. Review fails to establish any lost opportunity for
sale. As stated in Redberry
at [68], there is evidence of sales of the Review Dress in August 2005 but,
whilst there is evidence of repeats of the garment being made
and presumably sold, there is no evidence that the Review Dress was on sale a
year later, when New Cover/Maco imported the Spicy
Sugar garments from China. There is, therefore, simply no evidence that sales
by Review 2 and/or Review were in any way adversely affected by the
availability of the Spicy Sugar garments. The assumptions that Review invites
the Court to make cannot overcome the fundamental difficulty that there is no
evidence that, at the relevant time, the Review Dress was available for retail
sale to customers. Furthermore, since Review did not acquire the business of
Review 2 until February 2007, it might be thought
that, as at August 2006, Review could not in any event have suffered any lost
opportunity for sale.
44
Review sought damages on an
alternative basis, which is made out in the following
way. I accept that the infringement resulted in a probable diminution in the
value of the design as a chose in action because the infringement resulted in
some probable diminution in the commercial value of the design in respect of
its future use. Further, the reproduction of the design by
New Cover/Maco under the Spicy Sugar label and the
wholesale distribution of garments embodying the design to New Cover/Maco’s various retail customers is likely to have had some
adverse effect on the reputation of the design and its “exclusivity” (or
“freshness” as Gowans J said in Prior v Lansdowne at 70; applied by von Doussa
J in Milpurrurru v Indofurn Pty Ltd (1994) 30 IPR 209 at 243).
See also Review Australia Pty Ltd v
Innovative Lifestyle Investments Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 74 (“Innovative Lifestyle”) at [31] per
Jessup J. That is, on the evidence before the Court (to which I am about to
refer), the reproduction of the Review Design under the cheaper Spicy Sugar
label had the distinct potential to diminish customer interest in the Review
Design and, in consequence, consumer demand for garments embodying the Review
Design.
45
The evidence was that New
Cover/Maco imported 730 units of Spicy Sugar garments
style 050620-2SS. As noted above, these garments were
distributed by wholesale to retailers in competition with Review. There
was also an importation of a quantity of Spicy Sugar garments style 050620SS. The
evidence left the precise quantity uncertain since New Cover/Maco produced no documents and adduced no evidence
concerning the details of the importation of style 050620SS. In his affidavit
of 24 September 2007, however, Mr Meng stated that
the minimum quantity produced for a style is “at least 200 to up to over 1500”.
Taken overall, the evidence indicates that, on the balance of probabilities,
the importation of style 050620SS was at least comparable to style 050620-2SS.
46
Review made its own designs. The work that this entailed was attested to in some detail by Ms
Ellis. The evidence was to the effect that Review put substantial value
on its image as “very feminine, girly, sort of romantic” – an image achieved
through its designs. Mr Strain’s evidence was that Review sold its products
through stores that dealt exclusively in its products or through concessions in
a large department store. Although Mr Strain said that he was
“not sure” about the significance to Review of the fact that its clothing was
available only at Review outlets, it was plain enough that “exclusivity” (and
design “freshness”) was of commercial value since, as Mr Strain explained,
Review did not sell through other branded stores because it was not seen as
“part of [its] business strategy”. Bearing the above considerations in
mind and doing the best I can, having regard to the effect of the infringement
on the commercial value of the Review Design in respect of its future use and
reputation, I assess the effect of the infringement on the value of the Review
Design as a chose in action at $35,000.
47
In this circumstance, a further
question arises as to whether New Cover/Maco can
successfully rely on s 75(2)(b) of the Designs Act. The
evidence of Mr Meng and Ms Dolcel
was that New Cover/Maco prepared the companies’
clothing range in Australia and carried out sampling, grading and manufacturing
in China, after which they imported the garments into Australia. If the
garments had been made in Australia, then I would be bound to find that New
Cover/Maco had made the garments in contravention of
s 71(1)(a) of the Designs Act. They would have been
liable for a primary infringement: compare Innovative
Lifestyle at [21]. Section 75(2)(b) would not have
been available to them.
48
The evidence establishes,
however, that the infringing garments were made in
China and were thereafter imported into Australia and sold here. Section 21(1)(b) of the Acts
Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) provides that, in
any Act, unless the contrary intention appears, “references to localities
jurisdictions and other matters and things shall be construed as references to
such localities jurisdictions and other matters and things in and of the Commonwealth”. This provision reflects
the common law presumption that statutes are read “as being prima facie restricted in their
operation within territorial limits”: see Jumbunna
Coal Mine NL v Victorian Coal Miners’ Association (1908) 6 CLR 309 at 363
per O’Connor J, discussed in DC Pearce and RS Geddes, Statutory Interpretation in Australia (6th ed, 2006) at [5.5]. The effect of s 21(1)(b) of the Acts
Interpretation Act 1901 (Cth) is implicitly
acknowledged in s 4 of the Designs Act. Section 21(1)(b) of
this Act operates to confine the making or offering to make, with which
s 71(1)(a) of the Designs Act is concerned, to a making or an offering to
make in Australia (as s 4 of the Designs Act reflects): compare Hella-Australia Pty Ltd v Quinton Hazell (Aust) Pty Ltd (1967) 10 FLR 86 (“Hella-Australia”), which Gummow J cited with
approval in Carnival Cruise Lines Inc v Sitmar Cruises Ltd
(1994) 120 ALR 495 (“Carnival Cruise”)
at 509. In Hella-Australia, Street J refused an interlocutory
injunction on the basis that an article did not infringe a registered design
under s 30(b) of the Designs Act 1906
(Cth) unless the design had been applied to the
article in Australia. Following Hella-Australia,
Parliament amended s 30, with the result that the importation and sale of
articles to which the design had been applied outside
Australia were also infringements: see Designs
Amendment Act 1967 (Cth) (“the 1967 Amendment”)
and Polyaire Pty Ltd v K-Aire
Pty Ltd (2005) 221 CLR 287 at 293. Although Hella-Australia concerned a provision in the former Act, nonetheless it and the authorities referred to in Carnival Cruise and Carnival Cruise itself, establish that, absent contrary statutory
intent, infringements must occur within Australia. Accordingly, on the
evidence, the liability of New Cover/Maco could not
arise under s 71(1)(a) but only under s 71(1)(b), (c),
(d) or (e).
49
In written submissions filed at
the Court’s request, the applicants argued that s 71(1) of the Designs Act should be construed to have the same effect as under the
1967 Amendment. The text of s 30 as it stood after the 1967 Amendment is
significantly different from the text of s 71(1) of the Designs Act. Furthermore, the expression “such a product” in pars 71(1)(b)-(e)
of the Designs Act refers to “a product, in relation to which the design is
registered, which embodies a design that is identical to, or substantially
similar in overall impression to, the registered design” and does not pick up
the territorial limitation in par 71(1)(a), which only applies to making or
offering to make. Accordingly, the difficulty that the 1967 Amendment
sought to overcome with respect to s 30 of the former Act does not arise with
respect to s 71(1) of the current Designs Act.
50
For present purposes, I accept
that the public was unable to view representations of the Review Design on the
Australian Designs Data Searching facility prior to 6 July 2006: see Redberry at [79].
For present purposes, I also accept that, as Mr Meng deposed, no-one at New Cover/Maco
knew that the Review Design had been registered until so advised by Review’s
solicitors. The infringing Spicy Sugar garments in style 050620-2SS were imported into Australia over a month later and presumably sold
afterwards. As noted earlier, both this style and style 050620SS were being sold by New Cover/Maco
on 14 September 2006, when an employee of Review purchased both styles of the
Spicy Sugar garments. I reject the proposition that New Cover/Maco could not reasonably have been expected to have been aware that the Review Design was registered, given
the lack of any evidence from New Cover/Maco to the
contrary and the passage of time following the posting of the Review Design on
the data searching facility. In these circumstances, New Cover/Maco failed to establish that they could not reasonably
have been expected to be aware that the Review Design was registered, as
required by s 75(2)(b) of the Designs Act.
51
If (contrary to the conclusion
stated here) they were to be regarded as primary infringers, they could not
satisfy s 75(2)(a), because there is no evidence that,
before the time of the infringement, they took any steps, let alone any
reasonable steps, to ascertain whether the design was registered.
52
Review also sought additional
damages under s 75(3) of the Designs Act, which permits the Court to award
such additional damages as it considers appropriate, having regard to the
flagrancy of the infringement and
all other relevant matters. Additional damages are not
therefore confined to cases of flagrancy.
53
Additional damages may be awarded on principles similar to those that govern
aggravated and exemplary damages at common law: compare Aristocrat Technologies Australia Pty Ltd v DAP Services (Kempsey) Pty
Ltd (2007) 157 FCR 564 (“Aristocrat”)
at 570 per Black CJ and Jacobson J. There are elements of penalty and
deterrence in making an award of additional damages: Aristocrat at 570; also Venus
Adult Shops Pty Ltd v Fraserside Holdings Ltd
(2006) 70 IPR 517 at 557 per Finkelstein J. A purpose of additional damages is
to “strip the infringer of all pecuniary benefits received from the
infringement” and the sufficiency of the compensatory damages may be a relevant
matter: see Aristocrat at 571-72.
54
I am not satisfied that the
infringement was flagrant. In the circumstances discussed above, I am inclined
to accept that, at the time of the infringement, no-one
at New Cover/Maco knew that the Review Design was a
registered design. Further, for the reasons stated in Redberry at [80], I reject the applicants’
submission that a swing tag on the Review Dress provided notice to persons such
as New Cover/Maco that the Review Dress embodied a
registered design and attracted s 75(4) of the Designs Act. New Cover/Maco did not, therefore, deliberately
infringe Review’s design rights: see Microsoft
Corporation v Goodview Electronics Pty Ltd (2000) 49 IPR 587 at 591 per
Branson J. Further, Review did not contest the claim made by New Cover/Maco that they ceased their infringing conduct in
October/November 2006, after becoming aware of Review’s claim.
55
Review’s case on additional
damages was similar to its case for additional damages in Redberry. It rested largely on
“the closeness of copying” and allegations that it was the apparent business
practice of New Cover/Maco to engage in copying the
garment designs of other designers. The similarity of the Spicy Sugar garments
to the Review Design and the Review Dress that embodied it is self-evident. The
closeness of the similarity makes it more probable than not that someone on the
“[p]reparation, styling and research” side of the respondents’ business copied
the design embodied in the Review Dress in order to make the Spicy Sugar
garments. Ms Dolcel’s explanation that the similarity
was mere “coincidence” was unconvincing. Furthermore, Ms Dolcel’s
evidence was to the effect that New Cover/Maco bought
other designers’ garments and incorporated aspects of them in their own
garments. In response to the proposition that New Cover/Maco
did not originate designs but merely copied them, Ms Dolcel
accepted that “[t]hat’s what fashion is”. On the basis of Ms Dolcel’s
evidence, I accept that New Cover/Maco created
garments by copying the designs of others, to a greater or lesser extent,
depending on the garment in question. In the designs context, copying per se is
not, however, unlawful and does not establish a design
infringement. There is nothing relevantly reprehensible in this business
practice providing it does not
result in design infringement. Accordingly, copying alone does not attract
additional damages. Copying resulting in design infringement can,
of course, justify an award of general damages, but, in general, such
copying must be flagrant to justify additional damages. I have found, however,
that the copying in this case was not flagrant: see [54] above.
56
Review also relied on the
affidavit of Keith Richards of 22 January 2008, which was
filed shortly before the trial. Mr Richards’ affidavit amounted to an
allegation of copyright infringement against New Cover, based on the facts to
which he deposed. Ultimately, for the reasons stated in Redberry, I would regard this
evidence as irrelevant and, therefore, inadmissible. Furthermore, in contrast
to Redberry,
at best this evidence amounted to one instance of suspected copying. On its
own, it could not amount to evidence of relevant propensity; and could not
satisfy s 97 of the Evidence Act 1995 (Cth).
57
Review also referred me to its
infringement allegations with respect to registered design No 306802. These
allegations are the subject of the second part of this proceeding. At this
stage, they can rise no higher than this.
58
I would,
however, award additional damages upon the following basis. The
affidavit evidence of Mr Meng, together with the
evidence of Ms Dolcel, established that the fashion
business conducted by New Cover/Maco was a
substantial operation. Having regard to this evidence and to Mr Meng’s failure to attend for cross-examination, I give
little weight in this connection to the proposition that New Cover/Maco was unable to afford legal representation. Neither of
Mr Meng’s nor Ms Dolcel’s statements in this regard was corroborated by any
evidence. As noted above, New Cover/Maco discovered
no relevant documents concerning the manufacture, importation and sale of Spicy
Sugar style 050620SS. This omission was not satisfactorily
explained. I did not find Ms Dolcel’s evidence
in this regard credible. Further, Ms Dolcel’s
explanation about New Cover/Maco’s inadequate
response to Review’s notice to produce was also unsatisfactory and not
credible. As already noted, Mr Meng did not attend Court
in answer to a notice for cross-examination.
59
In addition, the deficiencies
in discovery, response to notice to produce, and evidence of New Cover/Maco indicate that there is a very strong possibility that
the extent of the infringement has been underestimated. Indeed, Ms Dolcel admitted that it was possible that infringing
garments were produced in different fabric beyond
those that have been disclosed in these proceedings. Moreover, as already
noted, New Cover/Maco produced no documents
concerning the details of the importation of style 050620SS and gave no
adequate explanation for this failure, when one was plainly called for.
60
New Cover/Maco
might also readily have given evidence as to the commercial benefit that they
obtained in selling the infringing garments, but they did not choose to do so. In
its absence, I assume that this evidence would not have advanced their case:
see Jones v Dunkel
(1959) 101 CLR 298. In the circumstances, I assume, therefore, that New Cover/Maco ran a profitable operation and that the sales of the
infringing garments contributed to this operation.
61
Considered together, the
foregoing considerations illustrates that a case of design infringement in the
fashion industry can be expensive and difficult to prosecute if a defendant
chooses to make it so. To adapt what Stone J said in Microsoft Corporation v Ezy Loans Pty Ltd (2004) 63 IPR 54 at 78,
“[i]t is important to more than the applicants that [design] infringers are not
encouraged to think that by ignoring court proceedings they can escape the
consequences of … infringements of the rights of others in the pursuit of
profits”.
62
In these circumstances, I would
award an amount of additional damages. Any assessment is necessarily
unscientific, but the figure of $50,000 reflects the relevant matters.
63
In summary, for the reasons
stated, I would uphold Review’s infringement claim regarding the Review Design
and dismiss the cross-claim. Judgment in favour of Review should
be given in the sum of $85,000. In the circumstances of this case,
including the respondents’ attitude and conduct in these proceedings, I would
grant the injunctive and declaratory relief sought.
64 The trial of this proceeding is, however, not yet concluded. There remain the claims regarding registered design No 306802 to be determined. Accordingly, at this stage I would order merely that the parties file and serve submissions as to the future conduct of the proceeding.