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Hemmes Trading Pty Limited v Establishment 203 Pty Ltd [2024] FCA 1100

Hemmes Trading Pty Limited v Establishment 203 Pty Ltd [2024] FCA 1100

TRADE MARKS – where applicant the owner of the trade mark consisting of the word ESTABLISHMENT in Classes 9, 25, 41 and 42, which include restaurant, bar and hotel services – where trade mark has been used since September 2000 in respect of a multi-level restaurant, bar and hotel business in Sydney – where respondent operates a restaurant in Brisbane under the name ESTABLISHMENT 203 – where respondent is part of a family-owned beef business in Queensland which includes an abattoir, and that abattoir was given the establishment number 203 by the Australian Government in about 1997 – claim for infringement and cross-claim for cancellation – claim allowed and cross-claim dismissed

TRADE MARKS – whether to cancel ESTABLISHMENT as a trade mark under s 88(2)(a) of the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) – whether mark was capable of distinguishing applicant’s services – whether applicant was owner of mark at priority date

TRADE MARKS – whether ESTABLISHMENT 203 is deceptively similar to ESTABLISHMENT

TRADE MARKS – whether respondent can rely upon defence of good faith use of own name under s 122(1)(a) of the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) – whether defence available to new companies – whether respondent acted in good faith – where respondent did not conduct trade mark searches or ask the company’s lawyers for advice when choosing name – where respondent received letter of demand from applicant

CONSUMER LAW – contraventions of Australian Consumer Law ss 18, 29(1)(g) and (h) – whether respondent represented that its services are commercially related to the applicant’s ESTABLISHMENT business DAMAGES – whether to award additional damages – where respondent proceeded in the face of a letter of demand – additional damages not awarded

Original article available at: https://www.judgments.fedcourt.gov.au/judgments/Judgments/fca/single/2024/2024fca1100

For more information, see the original judgement.

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