Merits of the appeal
38 As is apparent from the written submissions filed by the parties for the purposes of the application, little attention was given to the initial question of the merits or prospects of the appeal. Nevertheless, the issues that were raised are rendered slightly more complex by reason of the circumstances of the 11 examples of infringement which were the foundation of the causes of action in the 2020 Proceedings. Redbubble had previously admitted, in relation to examples 1 to 7, that similar conduct by it constituted a use of the trademarks under the Act. The same admissions did not apply in relation to examples 8 to 11. For that reason different defences were raised as between these two groups of alleged infringements and, necessarily, different issues arise on the appeal.
39 Ground 1 of Redbubble's appeal seeks to raise significant questions in relation to the contraventions in respect of examples 8 to 11, the answers to which are far from self-evident. In particular, it seeks to assert that the appearance of any infringing images on its website in conjunction with the goods to which they might be applied, did not constitute either a use of the trade mark within the meaning of s 120(1) of the Act or an infringement by it. The issues underpinning this ground include whether the mere storing and displaying of images on servers in the United States of America could amount to conduct which involves any engagement with a trader or consumer in Australia with respect to any goods which are essential matters in order for a "use" to occur. Although this issue was determined against Redbubble by the primary judge, it is a point on which reasonable minds might differ as his Honour's reasons reveal. Similar considerations arise around whether the evidence of the trap purchasers provides a useful guide to the events which might involve the ordinary Australian consumer. Redbubble seeks also to agitate whether the test for infringement as articulated by the learned primary judge was correct. It has always maintained that merely engaging in the conduct of its marketplace website did not constitute an infringement. It is far from clear that there could only be one answer to that question.
40 By ground 2 Redbubble raises the issue of whether, in the circumstances, examples 8 to 11 were in any practical sense available to an ordinary consumer in Australia. If not, there was no basis for finding that they had been used by Redbubble in the course of trade in or within Australia. The basis for this ground is that the artistic works the subject of examples 8 to 11 could only have been found via extensive searches on Redbubble's website and it was most unlikely that such searches would be engaged in by an ordinary Australian consumer, rather than a person dedicated to searching for examples of the marks in respect of which HAMC AU was an authorised user. There is substance to that ground of appeal and, in particular, because the evidence reveals that no one in Australia had sought to acquire merchandise with those marks on it. Redbubble also seek to agitate the point that given the difficulty of locating such marks and the speed with which they were removed, it cannot be said that they were, in any practical sense, available to an ordinary consumer in Australia.
41 By ground 3 Redbubble asserts that, in the circumstances of this case, the infringements, if they occurred, were of such a minimal nature that they ought to be disregarded. Albeit an unusual submission, it is not without some merit given the manner in which the alleged infringements occurred.
42 Additionally, Redbubble asserts that the learned primary judge erred in making an award of damages. It advances a number of reasons for this including that HAMC AU did not, by evidence or otherwise, demonstrate that it or HAMC had suffered any loss by reason of the alleged impugned conduct. From this it asserts that the amounts awarded were not supported by any evidence. Similarly, it seeks to appeal against the award of damages made pursuant to s 126(2) of the Act in the sum of $70,000 on the grounds that the requirements of that section had not been satisfied. That, in part, is a legal argument. There is no need at this point to detail it in full. It suffices to observe that there is a case to be made that the damages were not available under s 126(2) in the particular circumstances of the case. It is an unusual circumstance of this case that neither HAMC AU nor HAMC apparently have sought to commercialise the marks in question. They simply seek to restrict their use to persons who are members of their own or their associated motorcycle clubs. Redbubble also relies upon the fact that the primary judge seemed to accept that its business model only provides a platform for others to engage in trade and it is those third parties who engage in infringing conduct. His Honour had held that Redbubble did not upload any content found to be infringing. In relation to this ground Redbubble also relies on the primary judge's failure to take account of the nature and extent to which Redbubble went to prevent infringements from occurring.
43 By ground 7 Redbubble seeks to appeal against the grant of the 2022 Injunctions in the terms in which they were made. In part, this ground of appeal relies upon some of that which has already been said as to whether or not any infringement occurred. However, Redbubble additionally asserts that the scope of the injunctions granted are vastly in excess of what is required to prevent infringement. The terms of the injunctions were as follows:
1. Redbubble is restrained whether by itself, its officers, servants or agents or otherwise howsoever, from using the sign "Hells Angels" as depicted in Examples 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7 of Attachment C to the reasons and as depicted in Examples 8, 9, 10 and 11 of Attachment D to the reasons, or any sign substantially identical with, or deceptively similar to, a sign bearing the words "Hells Angels", on the website operated by Redbubble in relation to trade in goods to which the sign can be applied, where such goods are goods in respect of which Trade Mark No. 526530, Trade Mark No. 723219 and Trade Mark No. 1257992 is registered.
2. Redbubble is restrained whether by itself, its officers, servants or agents or otherwise howsoever, from using the sign being the device described in Declaration 2 of these declarations and orders as depicted in Examples 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 of Attachment C to the reasons and as depicted in Examples 8, 9, 10 and 11 of Attachment D to the reasons, or any sign substantially identical with, or deceptively similar to, a sign consisting of the device, on the website operated by Redbubble in relation to trade in goods to which the sign can be applied, where such goods are goods in respect of which Trade Mark No. 526530, Trade Mark No. 723463 and Trade Mark No. 1257993 is registered.
44 As was explained above, the learned primary judge had held that the appearance of the infringing marks on Redbubble's website were a use by it and that use resulted in an infringement. The injunctions appear to be directed to that "use" within the meaning of the Act.
45 Mr Cobden SC submitted that the injunctions so granted are what might be referred to as "obey the law" injunctions, in the sense that they are framed in terms of requiring compliance with the Act. He further submitted that there exists a lively debate in the authorities as to whether such injunctions should be granted in trademark cases as opposed to patent cases. There is an arguable point in relation to this issue. In Calidad Pty Ltd v Seiko Epson Corporation (No 2) (2019) 147 IPR 386 (Calidad v Seiko Epson) consideration was given to the diverging views as to whether the several statements in the leading texts on trade mark law in Australia were in error in suggesting that granting an injunction in general form "should probably be regarded as inappropriate". Their Honours disagreed with that proposition in relation to either trade marks or patent infringement although, as Mr Cobden SC rightly submitted, that case was concerned with only a patent infringement. He further submitted that there was some inconsistency with the earlier decision of the Full Court (Bennett, Katzmann and Davies JJ) in Christian v Societe Des Produits Nestle SA (No 2) (2015) 327 ALR 630, 667 - 668 [182] (Christian v Nestle) which doubted whether injunctions should be granted where they only have the effect of exposing a respondent to the risk of contempt if there is non-compliance, rather than leaving the owner of the intellectual property rights with the entitlement to commence further proceedings for any subsequent breach. The obiter observations in Calidad v Seiko Epson at 396 [48] - [49] disagreeing with this view do not rise as high as concluding that the view is plainly wrong.
46 In these circumstances it can be accepted that there exists some disagreement in the authorities as to the appropriate scope of an injunction which might be granted in cases such as the present and it follows there is some real substance in this aspect of Redbubble's appeal as well.
47 It is, perhaps, a good example of the difficulties associated with the particular form of injunctive relief granted in the present case that the 2022 Injunctions are in terms which prevent Redbubble using images or artistic works which had been determined did not infringe the rights of HAMC AU and HAMC. A number of images and works are referenced in Redbubble's written submissions. The terms of the injunctions granted also prevent the use of the marks even if the use of such is not "as a trade mark". It was not submitted by HAMC AU that these criticisms of the scope of the injunction were in error.
48 Finally, Redbubble seeks to appeal on the question of costs. It claims that it was not given an opportunity to be heard on that question and, in particular, that it was denied the opportunity to make arguments including with respect to the operation of the Civil Dispute Resolution Act 2011 (Cth) and r 40.08(a) of the Rules. It also advances the contention that the claim by HAMC AU in the 2020 Proceedings was for damages in an amount of at least $1 million, but the award fell substantially short that amount. Indeed it was only about 7% - 8% of the claim. It was submitted that this issue in relation to the question of costs arose as a consequence of Greenwood J delivering his judgment and making orders at 4:15pm on the last day of his Honour's tenure on the Court and, unfortunately, his Honour seemingly overlooked that Redbubble had sought to reserve its position on costs. There was no substantive submission made on behalf of HAMC AU that Redbubble's appeal in relation to this ground was not solidly founded.
49 Redbubble also seeks to appeal from the decision of Jagot J however, as has been mentioned, its prospects of success in that appeal are not relied upon for the purposes of the stay application.
50 Given the foregoing there are more than sufficient grounds on which to conclude that Redbubble's appeal has some merits to it. Indeed, in the absence of any submissions from HAMC AU in relation to a number of the grounds of appeal it is possible to conclude that Redbubble has not insignificant prospects of success with respect to, at least, part of the appeal.