EQUITY – EQUITABLE REMEDIES – INJUNCTIONS – INJUNCTIONSFOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES – TO RESTRAIN BREACH OF CONTRACT– NEGATIVESTIPULATIONS – GENERALLYEQUITY – EQUITABLE REMEDIES –INJUNCTIONS – EFFECT, INTERPRETATION, ENFORCEMENT AND BREACH OFINJUNCTIONS –BREACH – WHAT CONSTITUTES BREACH – injunctionrestraining use of confidential information – unlimited as to time–most information publicly available at time of injunction – whether use ofrestricted information would amount to breachINTELLECTUAL PROPERTY– OTHER MATTERS – CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION – WHAT CONSTITUTESAND GENERALLY – use ofconfidential information restricted under agreement– information subsequently made public – whether information stillconfidential as between parties to agreementTRADE AND COMMERCE –TRADE AND COMMERCE GENERALLY – RESTRAINT OF TRADE – RESTRAINT BYAGREEMENT – VALIDITYAND REASONABLENESS – IN GENERAL –REASONABLENESS – restriction of use of confidential information unlimited
as
to time – whether perpetual restriction reasonable to protect
inventor's interestRestraint of Trade Act 1976 (NSW) s
4
Amoco Australia Pty Ltd v Rocca Bros Motor Engineering Co Pty Ltd [1973] HCA 40
(1973)
133 CLR 288, followed
Amway Corporation v Eurway International Ltd [1974] RPC 82,
followed
Attorney-General v Guardian Newspapers Ltd (No 1) [1987] UKHL 13
[1987] 3 All ER 316,
mentionedBridge v Deacons [1984] AC 705,
consideredBuckley v Tutty [1971] HCA 71
(1971) 125 CLR 353, consideredButt v
Long [1953] HCA 76
(1953) 88 CLR 476, mentioned
Electronic Appliances (Commercial) v Toubkin [1962] RPC 225,
followed
Kone Elevators Pty Ltd v McNay (1997) 19 ATPR 41-564,
mentionedO'Brien v Komesaroff [1982] HCA 33
(1982) 150 CLR 310,
mentioned
O Mustad & Son v S Allcock & Co Ltd [1963] 3 All ER 416,
followed
Plume v Federal Airports Corporation (1997) 19 ATPR 41-589,
consideredRentokil Pty Ltd v Lee [1995] SASC 5318
(1995) 66 SASR 301,
consideredSuhner & Co AG v Transradio Ltd [1967] RPC 329,
followed Woodward v Hutchins [1977] 2 All ER 751, followedWright v
Gasweld (1991) 22 NSWLR 317, considered
Judgment (1 paragraphs)
[1]
Appeal allowed, judgment below set aside and replaced by an award of $5,000 damages. Parties are invited to make written submissions within 14 days as to costs, here and at first instance.