austlii:cth/ATMO/2025/70
General information, not legal advice.
ATMO
2025-04-22
Original judgment source is linked above.
DECISION OF A DELEGATE OF THE REGISTRAR OF TRADE MARKS WITH REASONS**
Re: Opposition by Daintree Saltwater Barramundi Fish Farms Pty Ltd to registration of trade mark application number 2176813 (class 29) - INFINITY BLUE DAINTREE BARRAMUNDI - in the name of Mainstream Aquaculture Intellectual Property Pty Ltd
Opponent: Len Hickey of Kelly Hazell Quill Pty Ltd
Applicant: Clare Cunliffe of Counsel instructed by Scott La Rocca and Mason Fennessy-Kent of HWL Ebsworth Lawyers
Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) - opposition under section 52 - ss 60, 61 and 62A considered - no grounds established - trade mark to proceed to registration
Trade mark: INFINITY BLUE DAINTREE BARRAMUNDI ('Trade Mark')
Specification: Class 29: Barramundi; wild caught barramundi; farmed barramundi; frozen barramundi; preserved barramundi; chilled foods consisting principally of barramundi; prepared meals, predominantly of barramundi; seafood-based stock being predominantly based on barramundi; barramundi extracts ('Applicant's Goods')
Trevor Mark Hober, Director of the Opponent ('Hober')
Boris Musa, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Applicant ('Musa')
Class 29: Farmed fish; Farmed fish products; Fish (not live); Fish products; Fresh fish (not live); Frozen fish; Frozen fish products; Prepared foods consisting principally of fish; Prepared meals consisting principally of fish; Preserved fish; Processed fish; Food products consisting principally of fish; Food products derived from fish; Food products made of fish; Foods made from fish
60 Trade mark similar to trade mark that has acquired a reputation in Australia
The registration of a trade mark in respect of particular goods or services may be opposed on the ground that:
(a) another trade mark had, before the priority date for the registration of the first‑mentioned trade mark in respect of those goods or services, acquired a reputation in Australia; and
(b) because of the reputation of that other trade mark, the use of the first‑mentioned trade mark would be likely to deceive or cause confusion.
[I]t is true that the assessment of the reputation of a trade mark goes far beyond mere examination of sale or turnover of goods sold under the trade mark and contemplation of the advertising and promotional figures.
As regards a trade mark, its reputation derives both from the quantum of sales under that mark and also its esteem, or image, projected by that trade mark. The quantum sale, advertising and promotion contributes to the 'recognition' component of the trade mark's reputation. The credit, image and values projected by a trade mark attaches to the 'esteem' component of the reputation as do the public events and other trader's marks with which [the] owner of the trade marks in question chooses to associate the trade marks via sponsorship, cross-promotions, 'contra deals' and so forth.
It follows that a trade mark used in relation to goods with comparatively low sales may have a high and strong reputation by virtue of the high credit or esteem in which it is held, or, conversely, that a trade mark which has very high sale may have a strong reputation notwithstanding the lack of esteem that attaches to it. The particular popular images, or sets of values, that attach to the trade mark are also, therefore, important parts of the reputation of the trade mark and may be as strong an association of the trade marks with the goods or services themselves.14F11F[7]
61 Trade mark containing or consisting of a false geographical indication
(1) The registration of a trade mark in respect of particular goods (relevant goods) may be opposed on the ground that the trade mark contains or consists of a sign that is a geographical indication for goods (designated goods) originating in:
(a) a country, or in a region or locality in a country, other than the country in which the relevant goods originated; or
(b) a region or locality in the country in which the relevant goods originated other than the region or locality in which the relevant goods originated;
if the relevant goods are similar to the designated goods or the use of a trade mark in respect of the relevant goods would be likely to deceive or cause confusion.
(2) An opposition on a ground referred to in subsection (1) fails if the applicant establishes that:
(a) the relevant goods originated in the country, region or locality identified by the geographical indication; or
(aa) the sign is not recognised as a geographical indication for the designated goods in the country in which the designated goods originated; or
(b) the sign has ceased to be used as a geographical indication for the designated goods in the country in which the designated goods originated; or
(c) the applicant, or a predecessor in title of the applicant, used the sign in good faith in respect of the relevant goods, or applied in good faith for the registration of the trade mark in respect of the relevant goods, before:
(ii) the day on which the sign was recognised as a geographical indication for the designated goods in their country of origin;
(3) An opposition on a ground referred to in subsection (1) also fails if the applicant establishes that:
(a) although the sign is a geographical indication for the designated goods, it is also a geographical indication for the relevant goods; and
(b) the applicant has not used, and does not intend to use, the trade mark in relation to the relevant goods in a way that is likely to deceive or confuse members of the public as to the origin of the relevant goods.
(4) An opposition on a ground referred to in subsection (1) also fails if the applicant establishes that:
(a) the sign consists of a word or term that is a geographical indication; and
(b) the word or term is a common English word or term; and
(c) the applicant has not used, and does not intend to use, the trade mark in relation to the relevant goods in a way that is likely to deceive or confuse members of the public as to the origin of the relevant goods.
(a) Bad faith for the purposes of s 62A must be as at the priority date and must relate to the making of the subject of the application;[14]
(b) Section 62A does not require the opponent to establish that the trade mark's use would result in deception or confusion. However, evidence to that effect may be persuasive in considering whether the application to register a mark was in bad faith;[15]
(c) The onus of proving bad faith rests upon the opponent;[16]
(d) All of the circumstances surrounding the application to register the mark are relevant;[17]
(e) The registration of a trade mark is designed to enable bona fide proprietors to protect their proprietary rights without having to prove unfair trading;[18]
(f) While the seriousness of an allegation of bad faith that "impugns the character of an individual or collective character of a business" requires correspondingly cogent evidence, the standard of proof is the balance of probabilities, rather than that of beyond reasonable doubt;[19]
(g) Conduct which falls "short of the standards of acceptable commercial behaviour observed by reasonable and experienced men in the particular area" is sufficient. Dishonesty is not required. Bad faith requires both subjective and objective elements; it is a combined test;[20]
(h) Subjective naivety does not exclude a determination of bad faith for the purposes of s 62A.[21]
(1) Unless subsection (3) applies to the proceedings, the Registrar must, at the end, decide:
(b) to register the trade mark (with or without conditions or limitations) in respect of the goods and/or services then specified in the application;
having regard to the extent (if any) to which any ground on which the application was opposed has been established.
[1] Unless otherwise indicated, any references to sections or regulations, below, are references to sections or regulations of the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) ('Act') or the Trade Marks Regulations 1995 (Cth) ('Regulations'), respectively.
[2] Food Channel Network Pty Ltd v Television Food Network GP [2010] FCAFC 58, [32] (Keane CJ, Stone and Jagot JJ) ('Food Channel').
[3] Telstra Corporation Limited v Phone Directories Company Pty Ltd [2015] FCAFC 156, [133] (Besanko, Jagot
[4] Trade Marks Manual of Practice and Procedure Part 51.2.5.
Daintree Saltwater Barramundi Fish Farms Pty Ltd
Mainstream Aquaculture Intellectual Property Pty Ltd [2025] ATMO 70