austlii:cth/ATMO/2025/119
General information, not legal advice.
ATMO
2025-06-18
Original judgment source is linked above.
DECISION OF A DELEGATE OF THE REGISTRAR OF TRADE MARKS WITH REASONS**
Re: Opposition by Outsystems Pty Ltd to extension of protection under regulation 17A.33 of the Trade Marks Regulations 1995 of trade mark numbers 2113237 (International Registration number 1546887) (classes 9 and 42) - OUTSYSTEMS - and - 2118767 (International Registration number 1549238) (classes 9 and 42) - OUTSYSTEMS (figurative) - in the name of OUTSYSTEMS - SOFTWARE EM REDE S.A.
Trade Marks Regulations 1995 (Cth) - opposition to extension of protection under regulation 17A.33 - ss 44 considered - prior use, honest concurrent use and other circumstances considered - s 44 established - extension of protection refused
Endorsement: Provisions of subsection 44(4) and/or Reg 4.15A(5) applied.
Trade Mark:
('Composite Mark')
Endorsement: PANTONE 1795C; Provisions of subsection 44(4) and/or Reg 4.15A(5) applied.
Kyle Lange, CEO and sole Director of the Opponent ('Lange')
Andrew Petale, Registered Trade Mark Attorney and Principal of YIP Legal ('Petale')
June Duchesne, General Counsel for the Holder ('Duchesne')
JD-1 to JD-17, including Confidential Exhibits JD-3, JD-8, JD-9, JD-11, JD-12, JD-15 JD-16
Goods and Services: See Schedule C ('Opponent's Goods and Services')
Endorsement: Provisions of paragraph 44(4) and/or Reg 4.15A(5) applied
on 10 September 2009 in relation to workplace management systems.
in relation to workplace management software and hardware from various dates between 31 October 2018 and 4 March 2020.Trade Mark: 
(1) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), an application for the registration of a trade mark (applicant's trade mark) in respect of goods (applicant's goods) must be rejected if:
(a) the applicant's trade mark is substantially identical with, or deceptively similar to:
(i) a trade mark registered by another person in respect of similar goods or closely related services; or
(ii) a trade mark whose registration in respect of similar goods or closely related services is being sought by another person; and
(b) the priority date for the registration of the applicant's trade mark in respect of the applicant's goods is not earlier than the priority date for the registration of the other trade mark in respect of the similar goods or closely related services.
(2) Subject to subsections (3) and (4), an application for the registration of a trade mark (applicant's trade mark) in respect of services (applicant's services) must be rejected if:
(a) it is substantially identical with, or deceptively similar to:
(i) a trade mark registered by another person in respect of similar services or closely related goods; or
(ii) a trade mark whose registration in respect of similar services or closely related goods is being sought by another person; and
(b) the priority date for the registration of the applicant's trade mark in respect of the applicant's services is not earlier than the priority date for the registration of the other trade mark in respect of the similar services or closely related goods.
(a) that there has been honest concurrent use of the 2 trade marks; or
(b) that, because of other circumstances, it is proper to do so
the Registrar may accept the application for the registration of the applicant's trade mark subject to any conditions or limitations that the Registrar thinks fit to impose. If the applicant's trade mark has been used only in a particular area, the limitations may include that the use of the trade mark is to be restricted to that particular area.
(4) If the Registrar in either case is satisfied that the applicant, or the applicant and the predecessor in title of the applicant, have continuously used the applicant's trade mark for a period:
(a) beginning before the priority date for the registration of the other trade mark in respect of:
(i) the similar goods or closely related services; or
(ii) the similar services or closely related goods; and
(b) ending on the priority date for the registration of the applicant's trade mark;
the Registrar may not reject the application because of the existence of the other trade mark.
(c) For the purposes of this Act, goods are similar to other goods:
(b) if they are of the same description as that of the other goods.
(d) For the purposes of this Act, services are similar to other services:
(b) if they are of the same description as that of the other services.
What forms the same description of goods must be discovered from a consideration of the course of trade or business. One factor is the use to which the two sets of goods are put. Another is whether they are commonly dealt with in the same course of trade or business.[28]
The term "closely related" recognises that goods and services are different things. There will be classes of goods which are similar to each other. There will also be classes of services which are similar. But the word "similar" does not apply as between goods and services. So there must be some other form of relationship between the services covered by one mark and the goods covered by another to enable the goods or services in question to be described as "closely related" ... it is a term of wider import than "similar" and can apply to the relationships between competing services as well as between goods and services.[29]
S 44(3) - Honest Concurrent Use and/or Other Circumstances
(ii) the extent of the use in terms of time, geographic area and volume of sales;
(iii) the degree of confusion likely to ensue between the marks in question;
(iv) whether any instances of confusion have been proved;
(v) the relative inconvenience that would ensue to the parties if registration were to be permitted.[38]
(1) Unless the opposition proceedings are discontinued or dismissed, the Registrar must decide:
(a) to refuse protection in respect of all of the goods or services listed in the IRDA; or
(b) to extend protection in respect of some or all of the goods or services listed in the IRDA (with or without conditions or limitations);
having regard to the extent (if any) to which the grounds on which the IRDA was opposed have been established.
Class 9: Mobile apps; downloadable computer software applications; downloadable mobile applications for the transmission of data; computer software platforms, recorded or downloadable; interactive software; operating software; collaboration software platforms (software); software for use in providing multiple user access to a global computer information network; software for the integration of artificial intelligence; cloud computing software; all the foregoing being software development tools or for use in the development of mobile and web enterprise applications.
Class 42: Providing temporary use of non-downloadable computer software for shipment processing over computer networks, intranets and the internet; design and development of operating software to access and use a cloud computing network; technological consultancy and research services in the fields of computer software, computer hardware and computer networks; computer programming services; design, development, deployment, implementation, analysis, integration and management of computer software for others; installation, modification, maintenance and repair of computer software; customization and configuration of computer software; configuration of computer hardware using software; consulting services related to virtual infrastructure and computer networking applications; managed information technology services and operations for others, namely management of virtual infrastructure and consultancy related to computer networking applications; service provider, namely hosting, managing and administering computer software for others; leasing and rental of computer software; technical support services, namely troubleshooting in the nature of diagnosing computer hardware and software problems; all the foregoing being software development tools or provided for use in relation to the development of mobile and web enterprise applications.
Class 9: Mobile apps; downloadable computer software applications; downloadable mobile applications for the transmission of data; computer software platforms, recorded or downloadable; interactive software; operating software; collaboration software platforms (software); software for use in providing multiple user access to a global computer information network; software for the integration of artificial intelligence; cloud computing software; all of the foregoing being software development tools or for use in the development of mobile and web enterprise applications.
Class 42: Providing temporary use of non-downloadable computer software for shipment processing over computer networks, intranets and the internet; design and development of operating software to access and use a cloud computing network; technological consultancy and research services in the fields of computer software, computer hardware and computer networks; computer programming services; design, development, deployment, implementation, analysis, integration and management of computer software for others; installation, modification, maintenance and repair of computer software; customization and configuration of computer software; configuration of computer hardware using software; consulting services related to virtual infrastructure and computer networking applications; managed information technology services and operations for others, namely management of virtual infrastructure and consultancy related to computer networking applications; service provider, namely hosting, managing and administering computer software for others; leasing and rental of computer software; technical support services, namely troubleshooting in the nature of diagnosing computer hardware and software problems; all of the foregoing being provided in relation to the development of mobile and web enterprise applications.
Class 9: Computer software; computer software for creating, developing, implementing, managing, tracking, measuring, analysing, reporting, and optimising employee time recordal, employee work attendance, employee start and finish times, employee movement, employee tracking, employee visits between work sites, work times (including breaks); computer software for fault or status reporting; computer software for privilege-based access security systems; computer software for employee award interpretation; computer software for facilities management and controlling facility access systems and components therefor, namely, control panels, access card readers, and equipment and systems for video imaging, access control, alarm monitoring and security; computer software for controlling and operating security and access systems comprising locks, doors, access devices and security enclosures in the nature of boxes for securing keys; computer user interface software and control software for managing surveillance equipment and systems; software for computers and computer networks, including, applications and programs for enterprises including applications for portals, transactional systems, workflows, database centric applications, integration systems, containing web, email and mobile interfaces, that may be downloaded from a global computer network; computer software including application software for analysing, processing and handling information and computer programs, including software downloadable from internet; computer software including computer software for use in downloading, transmitting, receiving, editing, extracting, encoding, decoding, playing, storing and organising data including audio and video data; downloadable digital applications and apps; computer programs including interactive computer programs; electronic newsletters; electronic magazines; electronic publications; electronic publications (downloadable); electronic publications including those sold and distributed online; printed publications in electronically readable form; printed publications in machine readable form; publications in computer readable form; publications in machine readable form; publications downloaded in electronic form from the internet; all the foregoing being in relation to goods in the areas of time and attendance systems, job costing systems, access control systems, employee tracking systems, time recorders and electronic key safes.
Class 35: Business consultancy; business consultancy services relating to data processing; consultancy relating to data processing; data management consultancy; business research; computerised business research; business information; collecting business information; collecting business information; compilation of business information; computer assisted business information; computer assisted business information; computerised business information services; computerised business information services; provision of business information; provision of business information; collection of commercial information; company data information services; computerised business information retrieval; provision of business management information; provision of business statistical information; provision of commercial information; systemisation of information into computer databases; data capture (keyboarding); information, advisory and consultancy services relating to the aforesaid services; all of the foregoing services in relation to goods in the areas of time and attendance systems, job costing systems, access control systems, employee tracking systems, time recorders and electronic key safes
Class 42: Online provision of web-based software (non-downloadable); provision of online non-downloadable software (application service provider); software as a service (SaaS); providing online non-downloadable software platforms for creating, developing, implementing, managing, tracking, measuring, analysing, reporting, and optimising employee time recordal, employee work attendance, employee start and finish times, employee movement, employee tracking, employee visits between work sites, work times (including breaks); providing online non-downloadable software platforms for fault or status reporting; providing online non-downloadable software platforms for privilege-based access security systems; providing online non-downloadable software platforms for employee award interpretation; computer software consultancy; online provision of web-based applications; project management (design); information, advisory and consultancy services relating to the aforesaid services; all of the foregoing services in relation to goods in the areas of time and attendance systems, job costing systems, access control systems, employee tracking systems, time recorders and electronic key safes; computerised business information storage
Class 9: Computer software and computer networks, including application software for analysing, processing and handling information and computer programs, including software downloadable from internet; apparatus which include integrated circuits, magnetic strips and memory chips; CD ROMS, discs and tapes
Class 35: Promotional services and sales promotion services in relation to computer programs and applications; retail and wholesale of computer programs and applications
Class 41: Technical and general training in information technologies, development of computer programs, tools and methodology
Class 42: rental of computer apparatus, equipment and hardware; rental of computer software; software consulting; software analysis, implementation and programing; study of technical projects; software installation and maintenance; data conversion for computer programs and other software; conception and maintenance services for third parties relating to internet pages, office applications, internet applications and mobile applications
Class 45: Licensing of computer software, including its reproduction and distribution to clients and partners
[1] Unless stated otherwise, each reference to a section or regulation is a reference to the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) ('Act') or Trade Marks Regulations 1995 (Cth) ('Regulations').
[2] Convention priority claimed on the basis of Portugal trade mark number 641594.
[3] Convention priority claimed on the basis of Portugal trade mark number 641595.
[4] Food Channel Network Pty Ltd v Television Food Network GP [2010] FCAFC 58, [32] ((Keane CJ, Stone and Jagot JJ).
[5] Pfizer Products Inc v Karam (2006) FCA 1663, [6]-[26] (Gyles J); Telstra Corporation Limited v Phone Directories Company Pty Ltd [2015] FCAFC 156, [133] (Besanko, Jagot and Edelman JJ).
[6] See: Outsystems Software EM Rede SA v OutSystems Pty Ltd [2022] ATMO 164 (Delegate Katrina Brown) ('Outsystems').
[7] Lange 3 [2], [5] and exhibit KL-1.
[24] Re Ladislas Jellinek for the Registration of a Trade Mark (1947) 63 RPC 59, 64 (Romer J).
[27] Ibid; see also: Southern Cross Refrigerating Co v Toowoomba Foundry Pty Ltd [1954] HCA 82, [5] (Kitto J).
[29] Registrar of Trade Marks v Woolworths Ltd [1999] FCA 1020, [37].
[37] Trident Seafoods Corporation v Trident Foods Pty Ltd Limited [2018] FCA 1490, [186] (Gleeson J) ('Trident').
[38] [2000] FCA 1335, [30]-[32].
[40] [2001] ATMO 78 (Delegate Terry Williams).
Outsystems Pty Ltd
OUTSYSTEMS - SOFTWARE EM REDE S.A [2025] ATMO 119
(1954) 70 CLR 84