Guide Dog Owners' & Friends' Assoc Inc v Guide Dog Assoc of New South Wales & ACT & Anor

[1998] FCA 736

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Between: Guide Dog Owners' & Friends' Association Inc - Applicant
And: Guide Dog Association of New South Wales & ACT - First Respondent; Royal Guide Dogs Association of Australia - Second Respondent

Court:

Judge: Sackville J

Subject References:
TRADE PRACTICES
misleading or deceptive conduct
passing off
whether charitable organisation's use of name 'seeing eye' was misleading or deceptive or appropriated the reputation of another charitable organisation
whether phrase 'seeing eye' or 'seeing eye dog' distinctive of applicant
whether phrase 'seeing eye' or 'seeing eye dog' descriptive

Legislative References:
Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) - 52; 53

Case References:
10th Cantanae Pty Ltd v Shoshana Pty Ltd, cited. - (1987) 79 ALR 299 (FCA/FC)
Attorney General; ex rel Elisha v Holy Apostolic and Catholic Church of the East (Assyrian), cited. - (1989) 37 NSWLR 293
British Legion v British Legion Club (Street) Ltd, considered. - (1931) 48 RPC 555 (Ch D/Farwell J)
Conagra Inc v McCain Foods (Aust) Pty Ltd, cited. - (1992) 33 FCR 302 (FC)
Dial-An-Angel Pty Ltd v Sagitaur Services Systems Pty Ltd, cited. - (1990) 96 ALR 181 (FCA/Wilcox J)
Dodds Family Investments Pty Ltd v Lane Industries Pty Ltd, considered. - (1993) 26 IPR 261 (FCA/FC)
Dr Barnardo's Homes v Barnardo Amalgamated Industries Ltd, cited. - (1949) 66 RPC 103 (Ch D/Vaisey J)
Equity Access Pty Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation, followed. - (1989) 16 IPR 431 (FCA/Hill J)
Erven Warnink BV v J Townend & Sons (Hull) Ltd, considered. - [1979] AC 731
Global Sportsman Pty Ltd v Mirror Newspapers Ltd, cited. - (1984) 2 FCR 82 (FC)
Holy Apostolic and Catholic Church of the East (Assyrian) v Attorney General; ex rel Elisha, followed. - (1990) 18 NSWLR 291
Hornsby Building Information Centre v Sydney Building Information Centre, cited. - (1978) 147 CLR 216
McCain International Ltd v Country Fair Foods Ltd, cited. - [1981] RPC 69 (CA)
Moorgate Tobacco Co Ltd v Philip Morris Ltd (No 2), cited. - (1984) 156 CLR 414
Parkdale Custom Built Furniture Pty Ltd v Puxu Pty Ltd, cited. - (1982) 149 CLR 191
Taco Company of Australia Inc v Taco Bell Pty Ltd, followed. - (1982) 42 ALR 177 (FCA/FC)
The Cellular Clothing Company Ltd v Maxton & Murray, cited. - [1899] AC 326
The Shell Co of Australia Ltd v Esso Standard Oil (Australia) Ltd, cited. - (1964) 109 CLR 407

Other References:
TD 92/197

Hearing date: 4-12 May 1998
Judgment date: 26 June 1998

SYDNEY

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ORDER

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1.

The application be dismissed.

2.

The applicant pay the respondents' costs.

3.

Order 2 be stayed for seven days.

Note: Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules.