Urban Alley Brewery Pty Ltd v La Sirène Pty Ltd - [2020] FCA 82 - FCA 2020 case summary — Zoe

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Urban Alley Brewery Pty Ltd v La Sirène Pty Ltd

[2020] FCA 82

Federal Court of Australia|2020-02-07|Before: O'Bryan J

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At a glance

Source facts

Court

Federal Court of Australia

Decision date

2020-02-07

Before

O'Bryan J

Source

Original judgment source is linked above.

Judgment (64 paragraphs)

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Cantarella Bros Pty Ltd v Modena Trading Pty Ltd (2014) 254 CLR 337 Carnival Cruise Lines Inc v Sitmar Cruises Ltd (1994) 120 ALR 495; 31 IPR 375; AIPC 91-049 Childrens Television Workshop Inc v Woolworths (NSW) Ltd [1981] 1 NSWLR 273 Clark Equipment Co v Registrar of Trade Marks (1964) 111 CLR 511 Coca-Cola Co v All-Fect Distributors Ltd (1999) 96 FCR 107 Colorado Group Ltd v Strandbags Group Pty Ltd (2007) 164 FCR 506 ConAgra Inc v McCain Foods (Aust) Pty Ltd (1992) 33 FCR 302 Crazy Ron's Communications Pty Ltd v Mobileworld Communications Pty Ltd [2004] FCAFC 196; 209 ALR 1; 61 IPR 212 Draper v Trist [1939] 3 All ER 513; 56 RPC 429 E & J Gallo Winery v Lion Nathan Australia Pty Ltd (2010) 241 CLR 144 Eli Lilly & Co v Chelsea Drug & Chemical Co [1966] RPC 14 F.H. Faulding & Co Ltd v Imperial Chemical Industries of Australia and New Zealand Ltd (1965) 112 CLR 537 Flexopack S.A. Plastics Industry v Flexopack Australia Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 235; 118 IPR 239 Food Channel Network Pty Ltd v Television Food Network GP (2010) 185 FCR 9 Hornsby Building Information Centre Pty Ltd v Sydney Building Information Centre Ltd (1978) 140 CLR 216 Howard Auto-Cultivators Ltd v Webb Industries Pty Ltd (1946) 72 CLR 175 Hy-Line Chicks Pty Ltd v Swifte (1966) 115 CLR 159 Johnson & Johnson Australia Pty Ltd v Sterling Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd (1991) 30 FCR 326 Le Cordon Bleu BV v Cordon Bleu International Ltee (2000) 50 IPR 1 Madden v Seafolly Pty Ltd [2014] FCAFC 30; 313 ALR 1 Mantra Group Pty Ltd v Tailly Pty Ltd (No 2) (2010) 183 FCR 450 Mars Australia Pty Ltd v Sweet Rewards Pty Ltd [2009] FCA 606; 81 IPR 354; AIPC 92-344 Mars Australia Pty Ltd v Sweet Rewards Pty Ltd [2009] FCAFC 174; 84 IPR 12; [2010] AIPC 92-364 McCormick & Company Inc v McCormick [2000] FCA 1335; 51 IPR 102 Nature's Blend Pty Ltd v Nestle Australia Ltd [2010] FCA 198; 86 IPR 1; AIPC 92-375 Nutrientwater Pty Ltd v Baco Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 2; 265 ALR 140; 84 IPR 452 Optical 88 Ltd v Optical 88 Pty Ltd (No 2) [2010] FCA 1380; 275 ALR 526; 89 IPR 457 Oxford University Press v Registrar of Trade Marks (1990) 24 FCR 1 Pepsico Australia Pty Ltd v Kettle Chip Co Pty Ltd (1996) 135 ALR 192; 33 IPR 161; AIPC 91-213 Pham Global Pty Ltd v Insight Clinical Imaging Pty Ltd (2017) 251 FCR 379 Re Bali Brassiere Co. Inc's Registered Trade Mark & Berlei Ltd's Application (1968) 118 CLR 128 Reckitt & Colman (Australia) Ltd v Boden (1945) 70 CLR 84 Reckitt and Colman Products Ltd v Borden Inc (1990) 17 IPR 1 Registrar of Trade Marks v W & G Du Cros Ltd [1913] AC 624 Registrar of Trade Marks v Woolworths Ltd (1999) 93 FCR 365 Shell Co of Australia Ltd v Esso Standard Oil (Australia) Ltd (1963) 109 CLR 407 Shell Company of Australia Ltd v Rohm and Haas Company (1949) 78 CLR 601 Southern Cross Refrigerating Company v Toowoomba Foundry Pty Ltd (1954) 91 CLR 592 Stone & Wood Group Pty Ltd v Intellectual Property Development Corporation Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 820; 120 IPR 478 Stone & Wood Group Pty Ltd v Intellectual Property Development Corporation Pty Ltd [2018] FCAFC 29; 357 ALR 15; 129 IPR 238 Verrocchi v Direct Chemist Outlet Pty Ltd (2016) 247 FCR 570 Wellness Pty Ltd v Pro Bio Living Waters Pty Ltd [2004] FCA 438; 61 IPR 242; AIPC 91-983 Yarra Valley Dairy Pty Ltd v Lemnos Foods Pty Ltd (2010) 191 FCR 297

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A. Introduction 1 The parties are in dispute with respect to marks used in connection with the supply of their craft beer products. Nowadays, the expression "craft beer" is a commonly used description for beer products produced by smaller breweries. Such breweries are often referred to as "microbreweries" and craft beers are also referred to as "boutique" beers. The description "craft beer" is used to distinguish beer products produced in smaller breweries from beer products produced by the large multinational brewing companies, which might be referred to as "traditional" or "mainstream" beer products. Brewers of craft beers seek to differentiate their products from traditional beers by highlighting the flavours of the ingredients, the story behind the beer and brewery and the techniques involved in production. Since 2011, the craft beer segment of the beer market has had its own national industry association, originally called the Craft Beer Industry Association but now called the Independent Brewers Association. The association defines a craft brewer as a brewer that produces less than 40 million litres of beer per year. 2 Writing in The Australian newspaper for the weekend of 4-5 November 2017, Peter Lalor commenced his article on the "Top 20" beers for that year with the observation that: "The craft beer market's relentless expansion continues apace. Barely a day goes by without a fistful of new brews landing on the shelves of good bottle shops; barely a month passes without another brewery opening its doors." Perhaps indicating that more flavoursome beers are not the preserve of newly released craft beers, Mr Lalor includes Coopers Sparkling Ale, made by Coopers Brewery, in his list, describing it as: Old Red, as faithful and consistent as the family labrador, for decades was an anachronism as the world was obsessed with lagers. But eventually things come full circle - think beards and pickling - and ales are popular again. This brew is as iconic as Vegemite and the baggy green. Unfiltered, fruity and honest, Sparkling is craft's granddaddy. 3 The applicant, Urban Alley Brewery Pty Ltd (Urban Alley), produces and distributes a craft beer product in bottles and cans from its "brewpub" located in the Docklands area of Melbourne. Although not the subject of specific evidence, I understand the expression "brewpub" to refer to a microbrewery which also operates as a pub, enabling patrons to drink the craft beer that is manufactured on the premises. Urban Alley is the owner of the registered trade mark "URBAN ALE" in class 32 for beer (to which I will refer as the Urban Ale mark). The Urban Ale mark has a priority date of 14 June 2016. 4 The respondent, La Sirène Pty Ltd (La Sirène), is also a producer and distributor of various craft beer products from its brewery located in the suburb of Alphington in Melbourne. In about October 2016, La Sirène began manufacturing, marketing, offering for sale and selling a beer product under a name that incorporated, in large lettering, the words "URBAN PALE". A representation of the label for La Sirène's Urban Pale product is shown below: 5 On 28 February 2018, Urban Alley commenced this proceeding claiming that the use of the Urban Pale name by La Sirène constitutes: (a) an infringement of the Urban Ale mark in breach of s 120 of the Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) (TMA); (b) misleading and deceptive conduct in breach of ss 18 and 29 of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) as found in Schedule 2 to the Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth); and (c) the tort of passing off. 6 On 24 October 2018, and after the commencement of this proceeding, La Sirène filed a trade mark application for "FARMHOUSE STYLE URBAN PALE BY LA SIRÈNE" in class 32 in relation to beer (the La Sirène word mark). On 26 October 2018, La Sirène filed a further trade mark application in class 32 in relation to beer for the following trade mark (the La Sirène label mark): 7 The La Sirène label mark is in the same form as the label that has appeared on the La Sirène Urban Pale product since its launch in October 2016. The marks were registered on 4 June 2019. 8 The trade mark infringement claims made by Urban Alley in this proceeding have given rise to a series of competing claims between the parties. 9 First, La Sirène seeks orders for the cancellation of the Urban Ale mark under s 88(1)(a) of the TMA on the following three bases: (a) under s 41 of the TMA on the basis that the mark is not capable of distinguishing Urban Alley's goods (in respect of which the trade mark is registered) from the goods of other persons; (b) under s 44 of the TMA on the basis that the mark is substantially identical with or deceptively similar to the prior registered mark "URBAN BREWING COMPANY"; and (c) under s 58 of the TMA on the basis that Urban Alley is not the owner of the mark (based on the registration of the prior mark Urban Brewing Company). 10 Second, La Sirène defends the infringement claims on the following four bases: (a) under s 120 of the TMA on the basis that it has not used the name Urban Pale as a trade mark; (b) under s 122(1)(b)(i) of the TMA on the basis that it has used the name Urban Pale in good faith to indicate the kind, quality, geographical origin, or some other characteristic, of its beer product; (c) under s 124 of the TMA on the basis that it has used an unregistered trade mark, being the word "urban", continuously in the course of trade in relation to craft beer products from before the priority date; and (d) under s 122(1)(e) of the TMA on the basis that it has exercised its right to the La Sirène word and label marks in the period since the date of registration of those marks. 11 Third, to counter La Sirène's reliance on s 122(1)(e), Urban Alley seeks the cancellation of the La Sirène word and label marks under s 88(1) of the TMA on the following bases: (a) under s 44 of the TMA on the basis that the La Sirène marks are substantially identical with, or deceptively similar to, the Urban Ale mark; (b) under s 42(b) of the TMA on the basis that the use of the La Sirène marks would be contrary to law because such use constitutes misleading and deceptive conduct in breach of ss 18 and 29 of the ACL and the tort of passing off; (c) under s 60 of the TMA on the basis that, before the priority date of the La Sirène marks, the Urban Ale mark had acquired a reputation in Australia and, because of that reputation, use of the La Sirène marks would be likely to deceive or cause confusion; and (d) under s 88(2)(c) of the TMA, on the basis that, as at the filing date of the claim (being 11 June 2019), the use of the La Sirène marks is likely to deceive or cause confusion. 12 Fourth, La Sirène makes a claim under s 129 of the TMA alleging that Urban Alley has no grounds for bringing an action against it for infringement of Urban Alley's trade mark. 13 Urban Alley's claims based on ss 18 and 29 of the ACL and the tort of passing off stand apart from the competing trade mark claims of the parties, but are based on the same underlying facts. 14 The evidence on behalf of Urban Alley was principally given by its director and chief executive officer, Mr Ze'ev Meltzer. The evidence on behalf of La Sirène was principally given by its director, Ms Eva Nikias. La Sirène also adduced evidence from Mr Matthew Kirkegaard, who is a freelance beer writer, commentator, educator and consultant focussed on the craft beer industry. Each of those witnesses was cross-examined. In the end, there were no contested issues of primary fact. The contested issues of fact largely involved the characterisation of the primary facts. A central issue is the ordinary signification of the words "urban" and "ale" when used in connection with beer and whether the Urban Ale mark was capable of distinguishing the craft beer product sold by Urban Alley.

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B.1 Urban Alley's business 15 In 2015, Mr Meltzer began taking steps to establish a beer brewing business, which he planned to operate in the Melbourne central business district. Throughout late 2015 and early 2016, Mr Meltzer took preliminary steps to establish the business, including creating a recipe for the beer and identifying possible brand names for the beer. Mr Meltzer's initial idea was to name the brewing company after a prominent Melbourne street and he came up with the name Swanston Street Brewing Co Pty Ltd. He incorporated that company on 13 November 2015. A short time later, on 1 March 2016, he changed the company's name to Collins Street Brewing Co Pty Ltd (CSBC) because at that time he was working in Collins Street. 16 On 17 November 2015, CSBC filed a trade mark application for the word mark "ONCE BITTER" in class 32 for beer. The mark was entered on the Register of Trade Marks on 17 May 2017 with a priority date of 17 November 2015. Mr Meltzer initially envisaged that the Once Bitter trade mark would serve as a parent brand name to be used in conjunction with other product specific brand names. It was his intention to create a range of new beers as a sub-brand to the Once Bitter brand. 17 Mr Meltzer gave evidence that, in early 2016, he conceived the name "Urban Ale" as a possible brand name for the beer to be sold by CSBC. At the time, he decided that he did not want to use a generic beer descriptor on the beer label such as Pale Ale or Golden Ale, but he wanted to create a new style of beer and a segment of the market that the business could own. 18 By early 2016, Mr Meltzer had developed the business to the point where he had a recipe for the beer to be sold and he had settled on the brand names "Urban Ale" and "Once Bitter". Since he had not constructed a brewery of his own, he engaged a contract brewer, Southern Bay Brewing Company, to brew the beer. 19 In May 2016, CSBC launched its first beer product under the names "Once Bitter" and "Urban Ale". The product was sold in 330ml bottles in packs of 4 or 24 and in kegs (50 litres) supplied to hotels and pubs in Melbourne. Initially, the product was sold through pubs, bars and independent bottle shops. The bottles bore the labelling depicted below: 20 The packaging of the 4 and 24 packs of the bottles was as follows:

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21 It can be seen that the most prominent label on the product and its packaging was Once Bitter and the Urban Ale label was depicted in a subsidiary manner in a contrasting font. For that reason, and to distinguish the product from a subsequent version which had different packaging, I will refer to this product as the Once Bitter product. 22 From about May 2016, coinciding with the launch of the Once Bitter product, CSBC disseminated promotional material relating to the Once Bitter product, which included table talkers for display on the tables and bars at the Network Public Bar located at Southern Cross Station, Melbourne, and decals for use on beer taps in bars and pubs. In May 2017, CSBC disseminated further decals. That material took materially the same form as the labelling and packaging of the Once Bitter product, with the dominant label being Once Bitter and the subsidiary label being Urban Ale. 23 On 14 June 2016, CSBC filed a trade mark application for the word mark "URBAN ALE" in class 32 for beer. That mark was entered on the Register of Trade Marks on 11 January 2017 with a priority date of 14 June 2016. 24 On 25 June 2016, the Once Bitter product was listed on Untappd under the style category of "Golden Ale". Untappd is a mobile phone application that allows its users to check beer ratings and post and share their beer ratings. It has 8 million registered users. The listing contained no reference to the label Urban Ale. 25 On 14 July 2016, CSBC filed a trade mark application for the word mark "ONCE BITTER" in the fancy lettering depicted above in class 32 for beer. That mark was entered on the Register of Trade Marks on 11 January 2017 with a priority date of 14 July 2016. 26 On 8 September 2016, CSBC issued a press release with the subject heading "Once Bitter, Melbourne's Brand New Craft Beer". The covering email introduced the brand as Once Bitter and the brewery was introduced as Collins St Brewery and prominently displayed the Once Bitter label in fancy letters. The press release commenced with the heading "ONCE BITTER LAUNCHES INTO THE AUSTRALIAN CRAFT BEER MARKET" and the beer product was referred to as Once Bitter throughout the press release. There were two references to Urban Ale in the press release. The first was in the following sentence: The signature Urban Ale sits somewhere between a classic Australian golden ale and a Belgian blonde, with pleasant tropical notes but a crisp, clean finish. This is a premium beer for the people and is described as a 'celebration of our great city, a tribute to the laneway culture and a blend of the old and the new'. 27 The second reference appeared at the end of the press release in an information section as follows: Name: Once Bitter Style: Urban Ale (Somewhere between an Aussie Golden Ale and Belgian Blonde) ABV: 4-5% Hops: Motueka, Galaxy, Southern Cross, Citra, Cascade and a secret dry hop! Malt: Wheat, Pilsner and Vienna Yeast: American ale yeast 28 It is apparent that, in the press release, the words Urban Ale were used to describe the style or flavour of the product. That use is consistent with Mr Meltzer's evidence that he wanted to create a new style of beer and a segment of the craft beer market that the business could own. Mr Meltzer also gave evidence that, over the years, he has been questioned by numerous buyers and consumers about the kind of beer offered by reference to "Urban Ale", and he has explained that Urban Ale is a new style of beer that is a cross between a classic Australian Golden Ale and a Belgian Blonde. 29 On 16 September 2016, a publication called "We Know Melbourne" published an online article titled "Interview: Ze've Meltzer of Once Bitter". In the article, the Once Bitter product is predominantly referred to as Once Bitter, although in one paragraph it is referred to as Urban Ale. 30 On 20 September 2016, The Age newspaper featured the Once Bitter product in the article titled "10 fresh Australian beers to drink this spring" in the Good Food Guide. In the article, the product was identified as Once Bitter and the brewer was identified as Collins Street Brewing Co. The article commences with the statement that "The media release for this Melbourne "urban ale" (which seems to be a cross between a Belgian blonde and Australian golden ale) says it's a celebration of our great city…". Again, the name Urban Ale is understood as a description of the style or flavour of the product. 31 On 16 November 2016, CSBC registered the domain name "www.oncebitter.com.au". The website featured a large depiction of the brand, Once Bitter, above a depiction of the product bearing no reference to Urban Ale at all. After various passages of text elaborating on the Once Bitter brand, the only reference to Urban Ale was towards the bottom of the website, in answer to the question "What does it taste like?", with the answer stating: "Our signature Once Bitter Urban Ale sits somewhere between a classic Australian golden ale and a Belgian blonde, with pleasant tropical notes but a crisp, clean finish". On the last page of the website, next to an image of the Once Bitter product, the following words appear: "A CELEBRATION OF OUR GREAT CITY, A TRIBUTE TO THE LANEWAY CULTURE AND A BLEND OF THE OLD AND THE NEW". These features of the webpage remain in the same form today. 32 On 27 December 2016, a publication called "The Crafty Pint" published an interview with Mr Meltzer titled "WHO BREWS ONCE BITTER?" The Crafty Pint is an Australian beer news website. It is an online magazine and resource for people interested in craft beer in Australia. Throughout the interview, the Once Bitter product was referred to as Once Bitter, save in one part of the interview in which Mr Meltzer explained that his intention was to bring out a variety of beers under the Once Bitter banner, stating: "I'm also keen to explore a secondary range of beers that will be limited releases under a separate name. They'll be challenging, varied in style, and offer up something at the other end of the scale from our Urban Ale. In ten years' time, I hope there'll be plenty of them." 33 By mid-2017, Mr Meltzer decided to build his own brewery, which he initially wanted to locate on Collins Street since he had named his company "Collins Street Brewing Co". However, after making some initial enquiries, Mr Meltzer determined that it would not be feasible to operate a brewery at a location on Collins Street and instead decided to build a brewery and bar in the Docklands area of Melbourne. Mr Meltzer decided to transfer the assets of CSBC to the applicant company, which was then named Laneway Brewery Pty Ltd (Laneway Brewery), and to trade under the name "Urban Alley Brewery". He also decided to stop using the "Once Bitter" brand name as he was of the view that, by incorporating the word "bitter" into the label, consumers might think that the beer had an accentuated bitter taste, which it did not. Mr Meltzer deposed that he also wished to further emphasise the Urban Ale mark on the urban ale products. 34 From November 2017, the business produced and distributed to bars and pubs that stocked its products 1,000 coasters featuring the Urban Ale mark (and without the Once Bitter mark). 35 On 21 December 2017, Laneway Brewery purchased the business of CSBC. Under a deed of assignment entered into on that date, CSBC assigned to Laneway Brewery: (a) any and all past, present and future rights, title and interest in and to the intellectual property owned by CSBC together with the associated goodwill (if any) throughout the world; and (b) all rights to bring, make, oppose, defend or appeal claims, proceedings or actions and obtain relief including but not limited to injunctive relief and pecuniary relief (and to retain any amounts recovered) in respect of any cause of action arising from CSBC's intellectual property whether occurring before, on or after 21 December 2017. 36 On 28 February 2018, Laneway Brewery added a product listing to Untappd called "Urban Ale", under the style category of "pale ale". 37 On 15 March 2018, Laneway Brewery registered the domain name "urbanalley.com.au". The website features the prominent statement "SUSTAINABLY CRAFTED IN THE HEART OF MELBOURNE". 38 On 30 April 2018, Laneway Brewery changed its name to Urban Alley Brewery Pty Ltd. 39 From May 2018, Urban Alley launched its new beer product under the dominant label Urban Ale (to which I will refer as the Urban Ale product to differentiate it from the product sold under the dominant Once Bitter label) and began to phase out supply of the Once Bitter product. Mr Meltzer was unable to say how long it took to phase out existing supplies of the Once Bitter product, although he accepted it took some months in certain cases. From about June 2018, the Urban Ale product was sold in 375ml cans (either in packs of 6 or cases of 24) as well as bottles. 40 The bottles bore the labelling shown below: 41 The cans bore the labelling shown below (shown in a 6 pack): 42 The case of 24 cans bore the labelling shown below: 43 From May 2018, Urban Alley has been distributing to customers t-shirts and clothing patches featuring the Urban Ale mark as depicted on the products shown above. Urban Alley distributed 50 t-shirts and 50 clothing patches for bar staff to wear at The South Melbourne Mussel & Jazz Festival in 2018. Urban Alley has also distributed t-shirts featuring the Urban Ale mark to bars and pubs throughout Victoria that stock the Urban Ale products. 44 On 27 July 2018, Australian Brews News published an online article titled "Production to begin at Urban Alley Brewery", which described the brewhouse then being constructed by Urban Alley in the Docklands suburb of Melbourne. The article stated that Urban Alley had been brewing its "Urban Pale Ale" at Southern Bay and Hawkers Brewery since May 2016. Australian Brews News publishes online content relating to beer, brewing, beer history and breweries. Australian Brews News' daily news digest has a subscriber list of over 2750 people, primarily people involved in the brewing industry, and its website receives in excess of 600,000 unique visits a year. 45 On 6 March 2018, Urban Alley filed trade mark applications for "URBAN ALLEY BREWERY", "URBAN LAGER", "URBAN IPA", "URBAN DARK", "URBAN APA" AND "URBAN PILSNER" in class 32 for beer. Each of those applications has been opposed by La Sirène, but the applications and the marks are not the subject of the present proceeding. 46 In September 2018, Urban Alley launched its "brewpub" in the Docklands region of Melbourne. The Urban Alley business currently has 7 employees, including Mr Meltzer. 47 From September 2018, Urban Alley has developed and used a bar and tasting station which features the Urban Ale mark. The bar and tasting station has been used at various retail outlets including at Liquorland stores for tastings and at events and beer festivals. Urban Alley has also provided further decals for use on beer taps in bars and pubs with the Urban Ale mark. 48 After December 2018 (the evidence does not reveal when, but by at least June 2019), Urban Alley changed the label of its Urban Ale product to the form depicted below: 49 Urban Alley adduced in evidence some financial data concerning the volume of products sold by it and the revenue earned, and marketing expenditure incurred, in the period from May 2016 until August 2018. Urban Alley sought an order from the Court to keep the data confidential. However, in circumstances where Urban Alley has made claims under ss 18 and 29 of the ACL and in passing off, it is necessary to refer to the data at least in general terms for the purposes of this decision. The data does not differentiate between the Once Bitter and Urban Ale products, but the volume data is provided in monthly figures which provides some indication of the sales of each product by reason of the fact that the Urban Ale product was launched and the Once Bitter product was phased out from May 2018. I have extracted the following figures from the data provided: May to June 2016 July to October 2016 FY2017 FY2018 July to August 2018 Volume of kegs (50 litres) sold 51 237 1,310 2,444 472 Volume of bottles (case of 24) sold 26 157 430 307 99 Volume of cans (case of 24) sold 0 0 0 8 869 Total revenue $10,954 na $247,920 $520,514 $119,730 Marketing expenditure $2,142 na $74,757 $77,531 na

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B.2 La Sirène's Business 51 In December 2007, Ms Eva Nikias, together with her husband, Mr Costa Nikias, incorporated a company under the name Ensticto Pty Ltd (now called Beverage & Brewing Group Pty Ltd) through which they established a business of setting up microbreweries for third parties in Australia and Asia. From 2009 to 2017, the business expanded to offer courses, run by Costa Nikias, for people looking to establish their own microbrewery. 52 In January 2010, the Nikias founded their own brewing business, La Sirène Brewing (La Sirène), through their company Beverage & Brewing Group Pty Ltd. 53 On 14 January 2011, Beverage & Brewing Group Pty Ltd filed a trade mark application for the word mark "LA SIRÈNE" in class 32 for beer (to which I will refer as the La Sirène mark). The La Sirène mark was entered on the Register of Trade Marks on 10 November 2011 with a priority date of 14 January 2011. 54 On 25 July 2012, Beverage & Brewing Group Pty Ltd incorporated the respondent company, La Sirène Pty Ltd, as its wholly owned subsidiary, to conduct the brewing business. La Sirène Pty Ltd licenses the La Sirène mark from Beverage & Brewing Group Pty Ltd. 55 La Sirène brews farmhouse-style ales, also known as "saisons" (French for "seasons"). The Wikipedia entry for "farmhouse ale" (to which no objection was taken) provides the following description: Farmhouse ale is an ancient European tradition where farmers brewed beer for consumption on the farm from their own grain, hops and yeast. Most farmers would brew for Christmas and/or harvest time, but in areas where they had enough grain farmers would use beer as the every-day drink. This was in a time when it was safer to drink beer than water. Farmhouse ale has enormous variation in the ingredients and brewing process used, both of which follow ancient local traditions. 56 La Sirène's brewery is located in Alphington, an inner suburb of Melbourne. Proximity to the Darebin Parklands is important to the business, because of the availability of local indigenous yeast and bacteria that is incorporated into the farmhouse ales produced by La Sirène. 57 Since December 2011, La Sirène has produced a significant number of products, including saisons, sour ales, witbiers, dark ales, fruit beers and Belgian ales. Each of these products has been sold with labels that incorporate the La Sirène mark together with the name of the product that describes the type and style of beer such as Saison, Wild Saison, Farmhouse Red, Belgian Sour, Witbier and Praline (to name a few). 58 La Sirène has won 23 national and international awards for its beers, including winning Champion French and Belgian Category Gold at the Australian Craft Beer Awards 2014, the "People's Choice Award" at the Great Australasian Beer Spectacular in 2014 and silver medals at both the International Beer Cup in Japan in 2015 and the International Beer Challenge in the UK in 2018. 59 In 2012, Costa Nikias began working on the creation of a pale ale with the aim of targeting a wider audience as well as offering an "everyday" La Sirène pale ale to existing customers. However, the first pilot brews of the pale ale product were not undertaken until 2015 and early 2016. 60 In January 2015, a journalist at The Australian newspaper, Max Allen, visited the La Sirène brewery and met with the Nikias. In an article published on 31 January 2015 in The Australian, Mr Allen wrote: The brewery's location is about as far from a French farmhouse as it's possible to imagine: the fermenting tanks and cool store and barrel room are located on an old urban industrial park ... [b]ut what's inside La Sirène's art nouveau labelled bottles is anything but industrial: these are seriously exciting, complex, in some cases groundbreaking, artisan beers of the very highest quality. 61 On 8 December 2015, another article featuring Costa Nikias was published in Ale of A Time titled "The Nation of Unconventional Fermentation". Ale of a Time is a craft beer focussed Australian beer blog and beer pod cast with approximately 3,100 followers on Twitter. The article included the following quote from Costa Nikias: I think we are lucky because being in an urban area, 9kms from the city, you wouldn't think there is a huge amount of opportunity to harvest indigenous yeast and bacteria. I think the opposite, I think in urban areas you've got more diversity and where our brewery is located, we are bordered by a creek, and bordered on the other side by a national park, so our brewery is directly exposed to this amazing diversity of microflora. 62 It was around this time (December 2015) that the Nikias began referring to La Sirène more regularly as an "Urban Farmhouse". An email dated 10 December 2015 from Costa Nikias sent to a potential US distributor refers to La Sirène as an "urban farmhouse". On 25 January 2016, The Crafty Pint published an article on La Sirène's Wild Tripelle product and referred to La Sirène's aim to "spontaneously ferment several thousand litres of wort using the native yeasts and bacteria that exist in the nearby Darebin Creek and Parklands, thus creating an 'urban farmhouse' ale". 63 Between late 2015 and early 2016, the Nikias decided to pursue the "Urban Farmhouse" concept more formally because they considered that that particular combination of words aptly described the interplay between what they were doing (creating "farmhouse style" beers) and where they were doing it (in an "urban" location). On 15 February 2016, La Sirène registered the business name "Urban Farmhouse Brewing Co" with ASIC and also registered the domain names "www.urbanfarmhousebrewing.com.au" and "www.urbanfarmhousebrewing.com". 64 On 21 February 2016, Costa Nikias created a document on his computer titled "Urban Farmhouse Brewing Co. Concept" which described a range of beer products the Nikias had been discussing, including two products under the names "urban ale" and "urban wit". The name "urban ale" also appeared in a recipe for the pale ale being created by La Sirène in a document which bears the date February 2016 and which was last modified on 25 April 2016. 65 Prior to departing on a family holiday on 25 February 2016, Eva Nikias conducted a number of internet searches of the word "urban" in connection with beer in Australia. Those searches included searches using the Google search engine and searches on the Untappd website. The searches returned a large number of results for other beer names and breweries containing the word "urban" in conjunction with other words but no results in Australia for the names "urban ale" or "urban pale". 66 At about this time, Eva Nikias also ran searches of the Australian Trade Mark Register for trade mark applications and registrations containing the word "urban" in connection with beer. This was because the Nikias were contemplating registering the name Urban Farmhouse Brewing Co as a trade mark. Eva Nikias gave evidence that she did not print out the results of those searches, but recalled that the results showed several trade marks on the Register containing the word "urban", including: (a) five trade mark applications containing the words "Passionate Urban Brewers Hahn Brewers ESTO 1987" in the name of Lion-Beer, Spirits & Wine Pty Ltd; and (b) one trade mark consisting of the words "Urban Crusader" in the name of Liquorland (Australia) Pty Ltd. 67 On 13 April 2016, Eva Nikias filed a trade mark application for the word mark "URBAN FARMHOUSE BREWING CO" in class 32 for beer (to which I will refer as the Urban Farmhouse mark). The Urban Farmhouse mark was entered on the Register of Trade Marks on 2 March 2017 with a priority date of 13 April 2016. 68 As mentioned above, the first pilot brews of La Sirène's proposed pale ale product were undertaken in 2015 and early 2016. It is common ground that "pale ale" is a well-recognised description of a style or flavour of beer. Eva Nikias gave evidence that, in creating a farmhouse style pale ale, she and her husband wanted to contribute to the diversity of pale ales which constitute the majority of the craft beer market in Australia. Since they operated a brewery that identified itself as an "urban farmhouse" brewery, the Nikias decided to name the pale ale "Farmhouse Style Urban Pale by La Sirène" because they considered that the name succinctly described the key elements of the product, which included: the style (farmhouse); the location of its production (urban); and its colour and type (pale ale). The precise timing of that decision was not clear from the evidence. Eva Nikias could not recall when the decision was made. 69 During 2016, the Nikias made the decision to package their pale ale product in a can rather than a bottle. In late June 2016, work began with the can designer engaged by La Sirène on the labelling for the can. On 12 October 2016, La Sirène's new pale ale product was listed on Untapped under the style category of "Pale Ale - Belgian" and was referred to in the listing by the name "Urban Pale". The first commercial batch of La Sirène's Urban Pale product was brewed in September 2016 and canned on 25 and 26 October 2016. The product was formally launched on 27 October 2016. The press release accompanying the launch stated that "The Urban Pale is a hop-driven juicy Farmhouse Pale Ale made in our Urban Farmhouse Brewery" and contained an image of the product as shown below: 70 It is apparent from the above picture that the words "Urban Pale" dominate the label, being in a larger and more prominent font compared with the other words that appear on the label. 71 On 31 October 2016, Australian Brews News published an article about the La Sirène Urban Pale product, in which the product was consistently referred to by the name "Urban Pale", while also identifying the brewer as La Sirène. 72 Eva Nikias gave evidence that, at the time that La Sirène launched its Urban Pale product, she had not heard of Urban Alley's Once Bitter product (which, as described above, included the name Urban Ale on the label). There is no evidence to the contrary and I accept that evidence. For the same reason, I also accept Eva Nikias' evidence that La Sirène chose to use the word "urban" in the name of its product because it described the location of the production of the beer (in an urban area). 73 On 4 November 2016, La Sirène filed a trade mark application for "URBAN PALE" in class 32 for beer. Eva Nikias gave evidence that La Sirène chose not to proceed with the application because there were a considerable number of third parties already using the word "urban" in relation to beer and related goods and services, and the word "pale" is a shorthand description of a very popular style of beer, being pale ale, as well as a key descriptor of the colour and appearance of a wide range of beers. I accept that evidence. 74 The evidence shows that, on its website and its Instagram account, La Sirène has commonly referred to the Urban Pale product as "Urban Pale" or "La Sirène Urban Pale" and not the lengthier name "Farmhouse Style Urban Pale by La Sirène". 75 In an article published in The Weekend Australian on the weekend of 4-5 November 2017 (referred to earlier), Peter Lalor named La Sirène's Urban Pale product as the "Best Beer 2017". In the article, Mr Lalor described the product as "My favourite drop from 2017", and "Definitely the best new beer of the year. La Sirène is an elite Melbourne outfit that specialises in the sour to saison range." 76 As noted earlier, on 24 October 2018, and after the commencement of this proceeding, La Sirène filed a trade mark application for the La Sirène word mark (Farmhouse Style Urban Pale by La Sirène) and, on 26 October 2018, La Sirène filed a further trade mark application for the La Sirène label mark (which is in the same form as the can packaging). The trade marks were subsequently registered. 77 No evidence was adduced concerning the volume of sales of the Urban Pale product since its launch, or revenue earned.

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B.3 Use of the word "urban" in connection with beer 78 The evidence shows that the word "urban" has been used in connection with breweries and beer products for a considerable period of time, both in Australia and in other countries. La Sirène relies on this evidence to establish the common usage and meaning of the word "urban" in connection with beer in Australia. A significant part of the evidence concerned usage in other countries, which I consider has little if any relevance to the issues in this proceeding. The evidence which I regard as relevant, and which is referred to below, concerns usage in Australia as well as usage in publications such as Time magazine which, while produced overseas, have a recognised readership in Australia. 79 It is a well-known fact that many traditional or mainstream brewers are located in urban areas. In Melbourne, for example, where both the parties to this proceeding are based, Carlton & United Breweries has a major brewing facility in the inner city suburb of Abbotsford. Nevertheless, the evidence shows that, in recent times, the word "urban" has been used by beer writers and brewers as signifying a connection with the craft beer industry. The usage appears intended to convey not merely a generic city location, but a laudatory epithet to refer to craft beer made in an inner city location and indicating that the brewer or the beer is "fashionable", "trendy" or "cool". 80 Broadsheet is an Australian online city guide founded in 2009. The site covers news related to food and drink, fashion and shopping, art and design, and entertainment. It also has a directory of cafes, restaurants, bars and shops which contains imagery and short descriptions of each venue. There are separate versions of the site for Melbourne and Sydney. In an article published on Broadsheet on 20 October 2010 and titled "Band of Brewer", Hilary McNevin discussed craft beer culture in Melbourne and brewers building their own breweries around the city. The article contained the following quote from Renee Mathie, founder and director of BeerMasons, an online craft beer appreciation society: Being close to the disposable income and dwellers of a large city reduces some major overheads and increases your opportunity to sell directly to a local market while building a wider distribution chain. Beer has historically been an urban product, a working-class drink, produced in working-class suburbs, whereas wine was a product of the countryside and the landed gentry. 81 In November 2010, Mountain Goat Beer's Hightail Ale made the list of Peter Lalor's Top 20 Beers of 2010 published in The Weekend Australian. The listing for the ale was accompanied by the following description: About a decade back, word filtered out about a cult in inner city Melbourne devoted to mountain goat. It wasn't as bad as it sounds. Cam and Dave hooked the locals and have slowly spread the word of their crafted and very popular urban brews. 82 In an accompanying article called "Cheers All Round - James Halliday's Top 100 Wines" published that same weekend, Peter Lalor made further reference to the "inner-urban market" for craft beers. 83 An article published in Time magazine in America on 9 December 2014, titled "Craft Beer Officially Isn't Cool Anymore Because Delta Will Begin Selling It On Flights", satirically posed the question "[h]as craft beer - the sweet, sweet nectar of urban hipsters trying to impress their friends who are in town for the weekend - officially Jumped the Shark?" 84 On 1 April 2015, Kylie Fleming published an article titled "Golden age of dining is upon us" in The City Messenger which is an Adelaide newspaper focussing on local news and sport published by News Corp Australia. Amongst "Kylie's Food Predictions" for Adelaide were "more specialty coffee, craft beers and urban breweries (such as Lady Burra in Currie St in April/May)". 85 On 27 March 2015, Australian Brews News republished an article appearing on the website of Stone & Wood Brewing Co. which referred to porter being the "original urban ale": Porter is the original urban ale, getting its name from the 1700's equivalent of white delivery van drivers who loaded and unloaded the ships, moving goods around the city. Its silky charms made this dark brew the pint for the people. 86 On 4 January 2016, Hospitality Magazine published an article titled "Urban dwellers increasingly choosing craft over regular beer: Clipp" which summarised analysis drawn from beer purchase data compiled by mobile payment app Clipp. Hospitality Magazine is a source of news and industry insights for Australia's food service businesses. The article stated: Australian urban dwellers are choosing craft beer over regular beer new data compiled by mobile payment app Clipp has revealed. … The data revealed that urban areas led the craft beer charge with craft beer accounting for 45 per cent of all purchases nationally, with regular beer coming in second at 40 per cent. Melbourne had the highest percentage of craft beer purchases (55 per cent) against just 34 per cent of regular beer purchases. … "With the variety of beers on offer at Australian establishments, urban beer lovers now regard beer as an experience - much like they do wine and coffee. People seek to be more adventurous and it's common now to be offered 'beer tastings' at pubs to enable you to choose your preferred beer," says Greg Taylor, CEO and co-founder of Clipp. 87 On 24 February 2017, Renata Gortan published an article in the Sydney newspaper The Daily Telegraph titled "Sydney's newest urban brewer taps into our love of a good, local beer". The article refers to the fact that "Australians love their beer and their urban breweries"; that "[Endeavour Vintage Beer Co] is the latest to hit Sydney's booming urban brewery scene"; and referred to "Sydney's urban brewery pioneer Young Henry's at Newtown ...". 88 On 29 August 2017, Anna Webster published an article in Broadsheet titled "A New Brewery for Burnley" with the subtitle "Romulus & Remus to close and reopen as an urban brewery serving everything from Australian summer ales to barrel-aged Russian imperial stouts" and reported that "Italian restaurant Romulus & Remus will close to make way for a new urban brewery, Burnley Brewing, which will open in November." 89 On 24 April 2018, Matthew Kirkegaard (an expert witness in this proceeding) published an article in the Brisbane newspaper The Courier Mail titled "Beer booming in our ageing tourism scene" which observed: An interesting aspect of the brewing industry is that breweries are largely city-based which makes it such an ideal urban tourism drawcard. Wine tends to be made where the grapes are grown, but the transportability of beer's ingredients means a vibrant small brewing culture can be cultivated anywhere, as has happened in Brisbane. 90 On 7 November 2018, Jaydn O'Neil published an article in Broadsheet titled "Beer Fest 2018 Is Coming to Esplanade Park This Weekend" which described attending brewers Nowhereman and Otherside Brewing as "urban breweries". 91 On 6 December 2018, Visit Victoria (the primary tourism and events company for the State of Victoria), published the article "Melbourne's urban producers" which, under the heading "Urban Drinks Producers", included the following information about urban breweries: Urban Breweries Craft & Co, Colonial Brewing, Thunder Road Brewery, Temple Brewing, Two Birds, Clifton Hill Brewpub, Mountain Goat, Stomping Ground, 3 Ravens, Tall Boy and Moose, Westside Ale Works, MoonDog, Hop Nation, Burnley Brewing, Hawkers, La Sirène - this is unlikely to be the exhaustive list of an inner-city brewery scene which just keeps growing. The pure range of styles from IPA to NEIPA to sours, pale ales, lagers, saison, wheat beer, porter, red ale, amber ale, golden ale and more, plus the fresh taste straight from the keg will keep hop lovers happy in Melbourne. 92 The evidence shows that a number of brewers and beer suppliers have chosen to use the word "urban" in the name of their beer products. The usage is not confined to craft beer producers. 93 Tiny Rebel is a brewery located in Newport, South Wales, in the United Kingdom. It has produced a number of beers containing the word "urban" in their name, specifically: (a) Tiny Rebel Urban IPA (listed on Untappd on 7 February 2012); (b) Tiny Rebel Belgian Urban IPA (listed on Untappd on 12 November 2013); (c) Tiny Rebel Urban Pils (listed on Untappd on 3 May 2013); and (d) Tiny Rebel Urban Bourbon (listed on Untappd on 28 August 2015). 94 The evidence showed that Tiny Rebel products, including its Urban IPA and Urban Belgian IPA products, have been available in Australia since at least February 2014. 95 On March 2014, Goose Island released a product called "312 Urban Pale Ale". Goose Island was established in Chicago in 1988 as craft brewery and was acquired by Anheuser-Busch in 2011. The number "312" in the label refers to the Chicago telephone code and "urban" refers to the ale's inner-city industrial origins of Chicago. While the evidence indicated that Goose Island products have been sold in Australia, there was no evidence that that included the 312 Urban Pale Ale product. 96 Liquorland (Australia) Pty Ltd is the owner of an Australian Trade Mark "URBAN CRUSADER" in relation to beer and other beverages in class 32 with a priority date of 16 July 2015. A lager sold under and by reference to the "URBAN CRUSADER" trade mark was listed on Untappd on 26 February 2016. 97 Lion-Beer, Spirits & Wine Pty Ltd filed a number of Australian trade mark applications for its famous HAHN beer brand using the tagline "PASSIONATE URBAN BREWERS" on 14 and 21 August 2015 in relation to beer and other goods in class 32. Those trade marks have been registered. However, the evidence did not establish how the mark had been used (if at all) in connection with Hahn beer. 98 Urban Purveyor Group Pty Ltd is the owner of the following Australian trade marks containing the word "urban": (a) URBAN BREWING COMPANY in classes 31, 32 and 40 in respect of, amongst other things, beer and the brewing of beer with a priority date of 24 March 2016; and (b) URBAN CRAFT BREWING COMPANY in classes 32, 33, 40, 41 and 43 in respect of, amongst other things, beer and the brewing of beer with a priority date of 5 July 2016. 99 The evidence concerning the activities of the Urban Purveyor Group was limited, but its webpage indicates that it was part of the "Rockpool Dining Group" and offered a range of craft beers (none of which included the word "urban" in their names). 100 Hopworks Urban Brewery was founded in 2007 in Portland, Oregon in the United States of America and a number of its beer products are available in Australia. At the Australian International Beer Awards hosted by The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria Limited at the Melbourne Showgrounds in May 2016, Hopworks Urban Brewery received a number of medals for its products. A number of its products are listed on Untappd. 101 Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is a large brewer based in California in the United States of America. Its products have been available in Australia since around 2010. Sierra Nevada has produced at least one beer containing the word "urban" in its name, being the Sierra Nevada Urban Trail Happy Pale Ale. That product was listed on Untappd on 9 September 2016. 102 The evidence showed that there are also a number of beer tour providers in Australia who use the word "urban" in connection with their beer tours, including Urban Beer Tour, Urban Beer Odyssey and Melbourne Urban Beer Tour. There are also a number of restaurants and bars in Australia, with a focus on beer, that use the word "urban" as part of their name, including: (a) the Riverland Urban Beer Garden located at Federation Wharf in Melbourne (which has been operating under that name since at least 4 October 2015); and (b) the Hopscotch Urban Beer Bar located at Southbank in Melbourne (which has been operating under that name since at least 30 September 2016). 103 A Facebook page of the Riverland Urban Beer Garden dated 21 January 2016 promoted a meal of barbecue prawns paired with wine or "anything from our urban beer list". 104 Urban Alley also adduced evidence from the Australian Register of Trade Marks of marks which are registered in class 32 and related classes and which contain the word "urban" as the first word in the trade mark followed by a word which describes the goods claimed. Urban Alley relied on the fact that these trade marks proceeded to acceptance and registration without a distinctiveness objection being raised. Those trade marks included (in respect of class 32): Urban Detox, Urban Remedy, Urban Guru, Urban Fruit, Urban Crusader, Urban Beverage Imports, Urban Casual Dining Company, Urban Brewing Company, Urban Farmhouse Brewing Co, Urban Craft Brewing Company, 312 Urban Wheat, Urban Cellars, Urban Fatigue And Urban Aloe. Numerous other trade marks were registered in other classes which contained the word "urban" as the first word of the mark. No evidence was adduced about the use of those marks in relation to the products in respect of which they were registered, save for the mark registered by La Sirène (Urban Farmhouse Brewing Co). In my view, the fact that numerous trade marks containing the word "urban" as the first word of the mark have been registered in respect of beer and other drinks products has little if any bearing on the question whether the Urban Ale mark is entitled to registration in respect of beer products.

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B.4 Opinions of Mr Kirkegaard 105 As noted earlier, La Sirène also adduced evidence from Mr Matthew Kirkegaard, who is a freelance beer writer, commentator, educator and consultant focussed on the craft beer industry. Mr Kirkegaard started writing about beer (and, in particular, craft beer) on a freelance basis about fourteen years ago and, in the last 10 years, has published articles about craft beer in the following publications: (a) the Virgin In-flight Magazine (periodically between about 2005 and 2013); (b) Australian Beer and Brewer, which is a quarterly trade and consumer magazine relating to beer and cider (between about 2007 and 2010); (c) Drinkstrade, which is a bi-monthly trade magazine for the liquor industry (between about 2010 and 2015); (d) Beers of the World, which was formerly an English beer magazine (in 2008); (e) All About Beer, which is an American beer magazine (between about 2008 and 2011); (f) the Courier Mail newspaper, which is a daily newspaper distributed in Queensland and published by News Limited (since about 2010); (g) various lifestyle magazines such as Lexus Magazine, a glossy lifestyle magazine distributed to Lexus owners (from time to time); (h) James Halliday's Wine Companion, which is a wine industry magazine that also covers other aspects of the drinks trade; (i) The Broadsheet, an online consumer-focused publication that covers food, drink and lifestyle; and (j) ABC Online, which is the online news and opinion service of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 106 Mr Kirkegaard also founded Australian Brews News in about 2010. 107 Mr Kirkegaard was the inaugural winner of the Australian Beer Writer of the Year award at the 2014 Australian International Beer Awards. In 2017, Mr Kirkegaard was presented with a special achievement award at "The Beeries", a Queensland beer industry-based awards event, in recognition of his services to the craft beer industry. 108 Mr Kirkegaard gave evidence about the meaning of the word "urban" as used in the context of the beer market in Australia. Mr Kirkegaard expressed the opinions that: …in the context of beer in Australia, "URBAN" does not have any particular significance in terms of beer style or flavour characteristics. It is a very generic term used to describe the location of a brewery or its target audience. … As a writer, it would be difficult to communicate the aesthetic of an inner-city brewery or describe the inner-city beer movement without using the word "URBAN". … …"URBAN" is a generic term that brewers use to describe their location or ground their beer marketing as being relevant to an inner-city consumer. 109 Mr Kirkegaard expressed the opinion that craft beer began and gained popularity in inner city or urban areas, stating that "Whether consumers are identified as 'urban hipsters', 'urban professionals' or another term, craft beer really gained acceptance as an urban beverage and the styling and culture around it has generally reflected this fact." 110 Mr Kirkegaard expressed the view that the label "Urban Ale" used by Urban Alley does not communicate anything to consumers in terms of what they could expect from the taste of the product. That is because the word "urban" is not a beer style recognised by the market and the word "ale" is a description of the process used to make the beer. In respect of the word "ale", Mr Kirkegaard explained that the two major classifications of beer are ales and lagers. As a general rule, "ales" are beers that have been fermented at relatively warm temperatures for short periods of time with top-fermenting yeasts whereas "lagers" are cold fermented for longer periods of time with bottom-fermenting yeasts.

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B.5 Evidence of confusion between the parties' products 111 No evidence was adduced by Urban Alley as to possible confusion between its Once Bitter product and La Sirène's Urban Pale product. The only evidence adduced as to possible confusion between the Urban Ale and Urban Pale products was given by Mr Matthew Powell who was employed as the off premises sales representative for Urban Alley since about March 2019. In his role, Mr Powell visits retailers of beer to promote the beers manufactured and sold by Urban Alley. 112 Mr Powell gave evidence that Dan Murphy's commenced selling the Urban Ale product in about 50 of its stores from the end of May 2019. Dan Murphy's is owned by the Woolworths Group and is the largest retailer of alcohol products in Australia with over 220 retail outlets Australia wide. On 5 June 2019, Mr Powell accessed the Dan Murphy's website and searched on the words "urban ale". The results showed the Urban Ale product and the La Sirène Urban Pale product. 113 I do not consider that the foregoing evidence is probative of the risk of confusion between the parties' products. It is common for an internet search to produce results based on similar but not identical search terms. The search results depicted each of the parties' products and the question of confusion needs to be considered by reference to the labelling and promotion of the competing products. 114 Mr Powell also gave evidence that on 3 June 2019 he visited the Dan Murphy's retail store located at 567 Bridge Road, Richmond (a suburb of Melbourne) to determine the shape and size of shelf talkers that could be displayed for the Urban Ale product. A shelf talker is a label which allows brands to provide marketing information to potential customers. After locating the Urban Ale product in the store, Mr Powell observed that the beer brand and price ticket used under the product listed the La Sirène Urban Pale product and the price for that product (which was more expensive than for Urban Ale). Mr Powell looked around for the La Sirène Urban Pale product in the same aisle but was unable to locate it, concluding that it was not merchandised in the same area or on the same shelf as the Urban Ale product. Mr Powell then spoke to a member of Dan Murphy's staff and asked him to correct the store labelling. 115 Again, I do not consider that the foregoing evidence is probative of the risk of confusion between the parties' products. It merely establishes that someone in Dan Murphy's pinned the incorrect store labelling to the shelf where the Urban Pale product was displayed. The reason for the error is not known. It may have been due to confusion between the names of the products, but equally it could have been due to a lack of care or clumsiness in picking up the wrong label. It is also a single instance of such an error.

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Relevant principles 118 Section 41 of the TMA was amended by the Intellectual Property Laws Amendment (Raising the Bar) Act 2012 (Cth) with effect from 15 April 2013. As stated in the relevant Explanatory Memorandum (at pages 145-146), the amendments were intended to clarify that the presumption of registrability, as provided for in s 33, applies to s 41. Otherwise, though, the principal concepts in s 41 are unchanged. The amended form of s 41 provides as follows: (1) An application for the registration of a trade mark must be rejected if the trade mark is not capable of distinguishing the applicant's goods or services in respect of which the trade mark is sought to be registered (the designated goods or services) from the goods or services of other persons. Note: For goods of a person and services of a person see section 6. (2) A trade mark is taken not to be capable of distinguishing the designated goods or services from the goods or services of other persons only if either subsection (3) or (4) applies to the trade mark. (3) This subsection applies to a trade mark if: (a) the trade mark is not to any extent inherently adapted to distinguish the designated goods or services from the goods or services of other persons; and (b) the applicant has not used the trade mark before the filing date in respect of the application to such an extent that the trade mark does in fact distinguish the designated goods or services as being those of the applicant. (4) This subsection applies to a trade mark if: (a) the trade mark is, to some extent, but not sufficiently, inherently adapted to distinguish the designated goods or services from the goods or services of other persons; and (b) the trade mark does not and will not distinguish the designated goods or services as being those of the applicant having regard to the combined effect of the following: (i) the extent to which the trade mark is inherently adapted to distinguish the goods or services from the goods or services of other persons; (ii) the use, or intended use, of the trade mark by the applicant; (iii) any other circumstances. Note 1: Trade marks that are not inherently adapted to distinguish goods or services are mostly trade marks that consist wholly of a sign that is ordinarily used to indicate: (a) the kind, quality, quantity, intended purpose, value, geographical origin, or some other characteristic, of goods or services; or (b) the time of production of goods or of the rendering of services. Note 2: For goods of a person and services of a person see section 6. Note 3: Use of a trade mark by a predecessor in title of an applicant and an authorised use of a trade mark by another person are each taken to be use of the trade mark by the applicant (see subsections (5) and 7(3) and section 8). (5) For the purposes of this section, the use of a trade mark by a predecessor in title of an applicant for the registration of the trade mark is taken to be a use of the trade mark by the applicant. Note 1: For applicant and predecessor in title see section 6. Note 2: If a predecessor in title had authorised another person to use the trade mark, any authorised use of the trade mark by the other person is taken to be a use of the trade mark by the predecessor in title (see subsection 7(3) and section 8). 119 The meaning of the phrase "inherently adapted to distinguish" in subsections (3) and (4) was recently considered by the High Court in Cantarella Bros Pty Ltd v Modena Trading Pty Ltd (2014) 254 CLR 337 (Cantarella). The majority endorsed the test formulated by Lord Parker in Registrar of Trade Marks v W & G Du Cros Ltd [1913] AC 624 (Du Cros) at 635 under earlier UK legislation, whether other traders are likely, in the ordinary course of their business and without improper motive, to desire to use the same mark, or some mark nearly resembling it, upon or in connection with their own goods. The majority observed that that test had been long applied in Australia, including by Kitto J in Clark Equipment Co v Registrar of Trade Marks (1964) 111 CLR 511 (Clark Equipment) (at 514) and F.H. Faulding & Co Ltd v Imperial Chemical Industries of Australia and New Zealand Ltd (1965) 112 CLR 537 (F.H. Faulding) (at 555) and by Gibbs J in Burger King Corporation v Registrar of Trade Marks (1973) 128 CLR 417, stating (at [44]): The requirement that a proposed trade mark be examined from the point of view of the possible impairment of the rights of honest traders to do that which, apart from the grant of a monopoly, would be their natural mode of conducting business (Lord Parker), and from the wider point of view of the public (Hamilton LJ), has been applied to words proposed as trade marks for at least a century, irrespective of whether the words are English or foreign. The requirement has been adopted in numerous decisions of this Court dealing with words as trade marks under the 1905 Act and the 1955 Act. Those decisions show that assessing the distinctiveness of a word commonly calls for an inquiry into the word's ordinary signification and whether or not it has acquired a secondary meaning. 120 The reference to a word's "ordinary signification" reflects the statement of Kitto J in Clark Equipment (at 514) that whether a trade mark consisting of a word is "adapted to distinguish" certain goods is to be tested: …by reference to the likelihood that other persons, trading in goods of the relevant kind and being actuated only by proper motives - in the exercise, that is to say, of the common right of the public to make honest use of words forming part of the common heritage, for the sake of the signification which they ordinarily possess - will think of the word and want to use it in connection with similar goods in any manner which would infringe a registered trade mark granted in respect of it. 121 The majority in Cantarella summarised the applicable principle in the following terms (at [59] and [71]): It is the "ordinary signification" of the word, in Australia, to persons who will purchase, consume or trade in the goods which permits a conclusion to be drawn as to whether the word contains a "direct reference" to the relevant goods (prima facie not registrable) or makes a "covert and skilful allusion" to the relevant goods (prima facie registrable). When the "other traders" test from Du Cros is applied to a word (other than a geographical name or a surname), the test refers to the legitimate desire of other traders to use a word which is directly descriptive in respect of the same or similar goods. The test does not encompass the desire of other traders to use words which in relation to the goods are allusive or metaphorical. In relation to a word mark, English or foreign, "inherent adaption to distinguish" requires examination of the word itself, in the context of its proposed application to particular goods in Australia. … As shown by the authorities in this court, the consideration of the "ordinary signification" of any word or words (English or foreign) which constitute a trade mark is crucial, whether (as here) a trade mark consisting of such a word or words is alleged not to be registrable because it is not an invented word and it has "direct" reference to the character and quality of goods, or because it is a laudatory epithet or a geographical name, or because it is a surname, or because it has lost its distinctiveness, or because it never had the requisite distinctiveness to start with… 122 As observed by Lockhart J in Oxford University Press v Registrar of Trade Marks (1990) 24 FCR 1 (Oxford University Press) at 8, the "other traders" test from Du Cros reflects the underlying policy objective of s 41 that no person should be able to monopolise a word or phrase and thereby impose an unreasonable restraint upon other traders who may legitimately wish to use that name in relation to their own goods. 123 In Apple Inc v Registrar of Trade Marks (2014) 227 FCR 511 (Apple), a decision handed down on the same day as Cantarella, Yates J explained (at [11]): What does it mean to say that a trade mark is inherently adapted to distinguish the goods or services of one person from the goods or services of another? The notion of inherent adaptation is one that concerns the intrinsic qualities of the mark itself, divorced from the effects or likely effects of registration. Where the mark consists solely of words, attention is directed to whether those words are taken from the common stock of language and, if so, the degree to which those words are, in their ordinary use, descriptive of the goods or services for which registration is sought, and would be used for that purpose by others seeking to supply or provide, without improper motive, such goods or services in the course of trade. 124 The foregoing statement by Yates J has been endorsed by Allsop CJ and Perram J in the Full Court decision of Aldi Foods Pty Ltd v Moroccanoil Israel Ltd (2018) 261 FCR 301 (Aldi Foods) (per Allsop CJ at [13] and Perram J at [126]) and by Burley J in Bohemia Crystal Pty Ltd v Host Corporation Pty Ltd [2018] FCA 235 (Bohemia Crystal) at [93]; 354 ALR 353; 129 IPR 482. 125 While every case turns on its own facts, examples of trade marks found to have no inherent adaption to distinguish include ROHOE for rotary hoes (Howard Auto-Cultivators Ltd v Webb Industries Pty Ltd (1946) 72 CLR 175), BARRIER for skin cream (F. H. Faulding), MICHIGAN for excavating goods (Clark Equipment), OXFORD for printed publications (Oxford University Press), OREGON for chainsaw accessories (Blount Inc v Registrar of Trade Marks (1998) 83 FCR 50), COLORADO for shoes, bags, wallets, purses and backpacks (Colorado Group Ltd v Strandbags Group Pty Ltd (2007) 164 FCR 506 (Colorado)), PERSIAN FETTA for cheese (Yarra Valley Dairy Pty Ltd v Lemnos Foods Pty Ltd (2010) 191 FCR 297), APP STORE for retail store services for computer software provided by the internet (Apple), MOROCCANOIL for hair care products (Aldi Foods) and BOHEMIA for glassware (Bohemia Crystal).

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La Sirène's submissions 126 La Sirène places primary reliance on s 41(3), submitting that the Urban Ale mark is not to any extent inherently adapted to distinguish Urban Alley's beer from rival producers and Urban Alley did not use the Urban Ale mark before the filing date to such an extent that the mark does in fact distinguish the Urban Ale product as being that of Urban Alley. 127 La Sirène submitted that the ordinary signification of the words "urban ale" is to describe an ale made in an urban area or intended for consumption by an urban audience. It says that the word "urban" is an ordinary, common word which means "of or in or relating to cities or towns". La Sirène says that the evidence shows that the ordinary signification of the word "urban" when used in connection with beer is as a laudatory epithet to describe inner-city craft breweries, their beers and their target market; it conveys that the product is "cool" or "trendy". In the context of beer, the word has a tangible meaning and has promotional attraction. The word "ale" describes one of the two principal classifications of beer, being beer that has been fermented at relatively warm temperatures for short periods of time with top-fermenting yeasts. As such, La Sirène submitted that the words "urban ale" are not to any extent inherently adapted to distinguish the beer produced by Urban Alley from beer produced by any other brewer. They are words that any other brewer might choose to use without improper motive; that is, for their ordinary signification. The fact that La Sirène chose to use the words "Urban Pale" within the name of its beer product, without improper motive, is an illustration of the very point. 128 La Sirène further submitted that the combination of the words "urban" and "ale" does not result in the trade mark being inherently adapted to distinguish the goods. Both words, when used in connection with beer, are wholly descriptive. 129 La Sirène submitted that Urban Alley had not used the Urban Ale mark before the filing date of 14 June 2016 to such an extent that the mark did in fact distinguish its beer. La Sirène relies on the following matters. First, Urban Alley had only used the Urban Ale mark for two weeks prior to the filing date and, in that period, Urban Alley made minimal sales of its Once Bitter product. Secondly, during those two weeks, La Sirène submitted that the Urban Ale mark was not used by Urban Alley as a trade mark. Rather, the label "Once Bitter" served to distinguish the commercial source of the product, whereas "Urban Ale" described the style of the product. Thirdly, La Sirène submitted that the prior and ongoing use of the word "urban" at that time by many others in relation to beer prevented the Urban Ale mark from becoming distinctive of Urban Alley in that short period.

[20]

Urban Alley's submissions 130 Urban Alley submitted that the Urban Ale mark is sufficiently inherently adapted to distinguish its beer products without the need for any consideration of the use of the mark under ss 41(3) or 41(4). Alternatively, Urban Alley relies on s 41(4) and submitted that, even if the Urban Ale mark is only to some extent, but not sufficiently, inherently adapted to distinguish Urban Alley's beer products from those of other traders, the combined effect of the extent to which the Urban Ale mark is inherently adapted to so distinguish Urban Alley's beer products and Urban Alley's use and intended use of the mark are such that the mark does and/or will in the future distinguish Urban Alley's beer products. Urban Alley does not rely on s 41(3), accepting that the extent of its use of the Urban Ale mark prior to the filing date was minimal. 131 Urban Alley accepts that the word "urban" is an ordinary, common word (rather than a made-up word) and has a meaning (namely "of or in or relating to cities or towns") that may be used in a descriptive sense. Urban Alley also accepts that the word "ale" has a descriptive meaning (being a type of beer). Urban Alley concedes, and indeed embraces, the fact that the combination of words "urban ale" does not convey any significance in terms of style or flavour characteristics of beer. 132 Urban Alley's principal argument is that the words "urban ale", when used in combination, do not convey any meaning or idea that is sufficiently tangible to anyone in Australia concerned with beer products as to be words having a direct reference to the character or quality of the goods. Urban Alley argued that the words "urban ale" are capable of distinguishing the particular beer sold by Urban Alley because, in the context of beer, they have an allusive or metaphorical meaning of being cool, trendy and perhaps industrial or grungy. 133 Urban Alley submitted that that conclusion is supported by the evidence that many trade marks have been registered in class 32 and related classes which have the word "urban" as the first word of the trade mark. It argued that the presence of various other marks on the Register of Trade Marks that comprise the word "urban" together with another descriptive word or words reinforces the inherent adaptability of the Urban Ale mark to distinguish Urban Alley's beer products. It further argued that neither Urban Alley nor any other trader is entitled to a monopoly over the word "urban" in respect of beer products; rather, Urban Alley claims only a monopoly over the Urban Ale mark and marks that are substantially identical or deceptively similar to the Urban Ale mark in respect of beer products.

[21]

Consideration 134 In my view, the submissions of La Sirène should be accepted and those of Urban Alley should be rejected. In particular, I find that the Urban Ale mark is not to any extent inherently adapted to distinguish Urban Alley's beer products from those of other beer producers. 135 To a considerable extent, the parties are in agreement as to the ordinary signification of the word "urban" when used in connection with beer and breweries. They agree, and I find, that at one level the word conveys its ordinary meaning that the beer is brewed in a city as opposed to a country location. They also generally agree, and I find, that on another level the word has become associated with craft beer products and breweries, referring to the fact that the beer is produced in an inner city location which is regarded within a certain segment of the market as being "cool" or "trendy" and attractive for that reason. They also agree that the combination of words "urban ale" does not convey any significance in terms of style or flavour characteristics of beer. 136 The evidence shows that many journalists writing about beer in Australia have used the word "urban" in a laudatory manner to describe inner city craft breweries. The articles were directed to beer producers and consumers. In my view, they are evidence of the common usage of the word "urban" by those who have an interest in beer whether as producers or consumers. The evidence includes many articles published before the filing date for the Urban Ale mark on 14 June 2016, including articles appearing in Broadsheet, The Australian newspaper, the City Messenger, Australian Brews News and Hospitality Magazine. While other articles appeared after the filing date of the mark, including articles in the Daily Telegraph and the Courier Mail, in my view those articles are consistent with the earlier usage of the word "urban" and therefore reinforce the ordinary signification of the word as at the filing date. 137 The evidence also shows that a number of businesses associated with beer, whether brewers or vendors, had adopted or used the word "urban" as part of their product or business name in Australia. Prior to the filing date for the Urban Ale mark, the evidence included the use in Australia of the names Tiny Rebel Urban IPA and Urban Belgian IPA (available in Australia since February 2014), Urban Crusader lager (a Liquorland product listed on Untappd from February 2016), Urban Brewing Company (registered as a trade mark in classes 31, 32 and 40 with a priority date of 24 March 2016), Hopworks Urban Brewery (which exhibited its beer products at the Australian International Beer Awards hosted by The Royal Agricultural Society of Victoria Limited at the Melbourne Showgrounds in May 2016 and received a number of awards), and the Riverland Urban Beer Garden (which has been operating under that name since at least 4 October 2015). 138 Shortly after the filing date of the Urban Ale mark, La Sirène began using the word "urban" as part of the name of its beer product called "Farmhouse Style Urban Pale by La Sirène". As noted earlier, I accept the evidence of Eva Nikias that La Sirène was unaware of the Urban Ale mark or product at the time it chose to adopt the words "urban pale" as part of the name of its product, and that La Sirène chose to use the word "urban" in the name of its product because it described the location of the production of its beer (in an urban area). I accept La Sirène's submission that its adoption of the word "urban" in its name affords evidence of a rival trader seeking to use the word without improper motive; that is, for its ordinary signification. 139 The evidence supports the opinions expressed by Mr Kirkegaard. In my view, Mr Kirkegaard's experience as a beer industry writer qualifies him to express an opinion on the common usage and meaning of the word "urban" in connection with beer products and breweries. I accept Mr Kirkegaard's opinions that the word "urban" does not have any particular significance in terms of beer style or flavour characteristics; that it is a very generic term used to describe the location of a brewery or its target audience; that it communicates the aesthetic of an inner-city brewery or describes the inner-city beer movement; and that it is a generic term that brewers use to describe their location or ground their beer marketing as being relevant to an inner-city consumer. 140 As already noted, both parties agree that the words "urban ale" do not have significance in terms of the style or flavour of the beer beyond what is ordinarily conveyed by the word "ale". This is despite Mr Meltzer's evidence that he adopted the name "Urban Ale" with the intent of creating a new style or flavour of beer and that, in Urban Alley's press release and on its website and in interviews given by Mr Meltzer following the launch of the Urban Ale product, Urban Ale is described as a new style of beer that is a cross between a classic Australian golden ale and a Belgian blonde. Despite those efforts, the words have not taken on that signification. Rather, the words signify a craft beer brewed in an inner-city location. The evidence shows that Urban Alley, and its predecessor, has consistently promoted itself as a craft brewery in an inner-city location: it has adopted a corporate and business name that implies an inner city location (Swanston Street Brewing Co, Collins Street Brewing Co, Laneway Brewery and Urban Alley Brewery); the Once Bitter website promoted the inner-city location of the Once Bitter product (describing the product as "A celebration of our great city, a tribute to the laneway culture and a blend of the old and the new"); and the more recent Urban Alley website also promoted Urban Alley as a craft brewery in inner-city Melbourne (stating prominently "Sustainably crafted in the heart of Melbourne"). 141 I do not accept Urban Alley's submission that the meaning of "urban ale", when used in connection with beer, is allusive or metaphorical. The evidence referred to above shows that, in relation to beer, as at the filing date of the Urban Ale mark, the word "urban" had a tangible meaning. At one level, it describes the beer as having been produced in a city location and, at another level, it connotes that the beer has been produced in an inner-city craft brewery. As such, the use of the word is descriptive and laudatory and the evidence shows that it was commonly used in that manner. 142 A similar factual conclusion was reached by Moshinsky J, upheld on appeal, in relation to the name "Pacific Ale" used in connection with beer: Stone & Wood Group Pty Ltd v Intellectual Property Development Corporation Pty Ltd [2016] FCA 820; 120 IPR 478 (Stone & Wood) and on appeal by the Full Court: Stone & Wood Group Pty Ltd v Intellectual Property Development Corporation Pty Ltd [2018] FCAFC 29; 357 ALR 15; 129 IPR 238. The applicant, which produced a beer labelled "Stone & Wood Pacific Ale", brought proceedings against the respondent, which produced a beer first called "Thunder Road Pacific Ale" and later called "Thunder Road Pacific", alleging misleading and deceptive conduct and passing off. The case did not involve any direct consideration of s 41 of the TMA. Nevertheless, Moshinsky J found that the word "Pacific", when used in relation to beer, had a descriptive aspect to it, notwithstanding that it was not a recognised style of beer. His Honour observed (at [205]): In my view, the word 'Pacific' has a descriptive aspect to it when used in relation to both Stone & Wood's and the Respondents' products. 'Pacific' is, of course, the name of the Pacific Ocean. It can be used adjectively to refer to someone or something that pertains to the Pacific Ocean (for example, Pacific islander, Pacific solution). It is also an adjective which means peaceful or calm (among other meanings). That the word has a descriptive aspect is underlined by the reasons why Stone & Wood chose the name in the first place. The first was that one of the Stone & Wood breweries (the only one in operation in 2010) is located in Byron Bay, which is situated on the Pacific Ocean. The second reason was to generate a calming, cooling emotional response in consumers. This evidence calls to mind the observation of Stephen J in Hornsby, quoted above: "There is a price to be paid for the advantages flowing from the possession of an eloquently descriptive trade name". In the present case, by choosing a name for its product that has a descriptive aspect to it, Stone & Wood ran the risk that others in the trade would use it descriptively and that it would not distinguish its product. 143 The Full Court upheld Moshinsky J's conclusions regarding the descriptive aspect of "Pacific Ale" (at [100]) and made the following further observations regarding the capacity of a word to distinguish the goods of one trader from another (at [68]): …At this point it is perhaps worth saying that the word "descriptive" is perhaps inadequate. What is the subject of consideration is the use of the words in their commercial and physical context to create a reputation through a capacity to distinguish the goods of the trader. In this kind of context (such as s 41(3) of the Trade Marks Act) it may become relevant to assess the capacity of a word to distinguish the goods of one trader from the goods of another. The relevant concepts are not binary in nature: descriptive or distinguishing. Language is more subtle than that. A word may have no precise meaning but be capable of evoking geographic as well as metaphoric resonances, without being particularly apt to distinguish goods of rival traders. See, for example, the word "Colorado" in the context of clothes and s 41 of the Trade Marks Act in Colorado Group Ltd v Strandbags Group Pty Ltd [2007] FCAFC 184; 164 FCR 506 at 538-540 [120]-[128]. 144 I also do not accept Urban Alley's submission that the combined words "urban ale" are distinctive, relying in part on the submission that many other trade marks using the word "urban" have been registered in class 32 without opposition based on distinctiveness. In my view, each of the words "urban" and "ale", when used in relation to beer, are descriptive. Their combination does not alter their ordinary signification or their descriptiveness. Further, I do not consider that anything can be drawn from the fact that many other trade marks which commence with the word "urban" have been registered in class 32 (or related classes). In the first place, many of those marks are registered in relation to products other than beer products and, as such, are wholly irrelevant to the statutory enquiry. As the High Court emphasised in Cantarella, "inherent adaption to distinguish" requires examination of the mark in the context of its proposed application to particular goods in Australia (at [57]). In so far as the marks are registered in relation to beer products, the fact of registration is not determinative of distinctiveness within s 41 and the present proceeding is no occasion for such an enquiry. 145 As noted earlier, Urban Alley does not rely on s 41(3), accepting that the extent of its use of the Urban Ale mark prior to the filing date was insufficient to distinguish its good in fact. As I have found that the Urban Ale mark is not to any extent inherently adapted to distinguish Urban Alley's beer products from those of other producers, I conclude that the mark is not capable of distinguishing Urban Alley's beer products within the meaning of s 41(1) and registration should be rejected. It follows that the Court's discretion to order that the Register be rectified by cancelling the registration of the mark under s 88(1)(a) is enlivened, which I consider below.

[22]

Relevant principles 146 Section 44(1) provides as follows: (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. 147 The classic test for substantial identity was stated by Windeyer J in Shell Co of Australia Ltd v Esso Standard Oil (Australia) Ltd (1963) 109 CLR 407 (Shell v Esso) at 414: In considering whether marks are substantially identical they should, I think, be compared side by side, their similarities and differences noted and the importance of these assessed having regard to the essential features of the registered mark and the total impression of resemblance or dissimilarity that emerges from the comparison. 148 The Full Court explained further in Pham Global Pty Ltd v Insight Clinical Imaging Pty Ltd (2017) 251 FCR 379 (Pham Global) at [52]: The required exercise of side-by-side comparison is not carried out in a factual and legislative vacuum. The purpose of the exercise is to decide if two trade marks are substantially identical, where a trade mark is "a sign used, or intended to be used, to distinguish goods or services dealt with or provided in the course of trade by a person from goods or services so dealt with or provided by any other person" (s 17). Given this context, it is unlikely that the essential elements of a mark or its dominant cognitive clues are to be found in mere descriptive elements, which are not apt to perform this distinguishing role in respect of the relevant goods or services. While this does not mean that differences, including descriptive differences, may be ignored, it does mean that the side-by-side comparison is to be carried out cognisant of the essential elements of the mark. 149 Applying this approach, the Full Court found substantial identity between trade marks including the words "Insight Clinical Imaging" and "Insight Radiology" along with similar but somewhat different logos (at [56]). 150 As to the alternative standard of deceptive similarity, s 10 provides that a trade mark is taken to be "deceptively similar" to another trade mark if it "so nearly resembles that other trade mark that it is likely to deceive or cause confusion". The following principles have been established by the cases: (a) First, confusion includes being left in doubt or having cause to wonder: Southern Cross Refrigerating Company v Toowoomba Foundry Pty Ltd (1954) 91 CLR 592 at 594-5 per Kitto J, or being perplexed or mixed up: Coca-Cola Co v All-Fect Distributors Ltd (1999) 96 FCR 107 (Coca-Cola) at [39]. (b) Second, it is not necessary to establish that confusion is more probable than not; likelihood is established if there is a real risk, that is a finite, non-trivial risk, of confusion: Registrar of Trade Marks v Woolworths Ltd (1999) 93 FCR 365 at [43] per French J, Tamberlin J agreeing. (c) Third, no intention to deceive or cause confusion is required: Re Bali Brassiere Co. Inc's Registered Trade Mark & Berlei Ltd's Application (1968) 118 CLR 128 (Re Bali Brassiere) at 139 per Windeyer J. (d) Fourth, the test is to be assessed by reference to persons who may have an imperfect recollection of the marks: Reckitt & Colman (Australia) Ltd v Boden (1945) 70 CLR 84 at 98 per Williams J and at 89 per Latham CJ; Re Bali Brassiere at 136-137 per Windeyer J, and who do not have an opportunity to compare the respective marks side-by-side: Shell v Esso at 415-416 per Windeyer J. 151 If two marks share a common element, it tends to increase the likelihood of the later mark being considered to be deceptively similar. This is particularly so if the common element between the marks is particularly prominent or is an "essential feature" of the marks: Crazy Ron's Communications Pty Ltd v Mobileworld Communications Pty Ltd [2004] FCAFC 196 at [79]-[90]; 209 ALR 1; 61 IPR 212.

[26]

Relevant principles 162 Section 58 provides: The registration of a trade mark may be opposed on the ground that the applicant is not the owner of the trade mark. 163 The word "owner" is not defined in the TMA. Its meaning has been established by a number of decisions, reflecting both the common law origins of trade mark rights and the statutory provisions. Relevantly for present purposes, in respect of a mark that has not been used prior to the application for registration, the basis of a claim to ownership has been found in the combined effect of authorship of the mark, the intention to use it upon or in connection with the goods and the application for registration: Food Channel Network Pty Ltd v Television Food Network GP (2010) 185 FCR 9 (Food Channel) at [52], citing Shell Company of Australia Ltd v Rohm and Haas Company (1949) 78 CLR 601 (Shell) at 627 per Dixon J; Pham Global at [18] and [19]. An intention to use the trade mark may be inferred from the making of an application to register the mark: Food Channel at [67], [70] and [72]. In respect of a mark that has been used prior to the application for registration, ownership is established by authorship of the mark and prior use: Food Channel at [55]; Pham Global at [19]. 164 In Carnival Cruise Lines Inc v Sitmar Cruises Ltd (1994) 120 ALR 495 (Carnival Cruise Lines) at 513; 31 IPR 375; AIPC 91-049, Gummow J (while a judge of this Court) considered the question whether ownership of a trade mark is limited to the precise form of that mark as authored, or whether ownership extends to marks that are substantially identical or that are deceptively similar to that mark (such that a challenge to registration of a mark on the ground that the applicant is not the owner might be made if the mark is substantially identical to, or that are deceptively similar to, another registered mark. In obiter but considered reasons, his Honour concluded that ownership of a trade mark extends to marks that are substantially identical to that mark, but not to marks that are merely deceptively similar (at 38-114).

[33]

Consideration 174 In my view, Urban Alley has not advanced a sufficient reason not to order the cancellation of the Urban Ale mark. 175 Contrary to Urban Alley's submission, the public interest would be adversely affected if registration of the Urban Ale mark continued in two respects. First, I have found that the words "urban ale" are words that other traders may desire to use in connection with beer products and breweries for their ordinary signification. As recently reiterated by Burley J in Bohemia Crystal, registered trade mark rights ought not to accrue in respect of marks that, according to their ordinary signification, are for words that other traders may desire to use. Second, I have also found that the Urban Ale mark is deceptively similar to the Urban Brewing Company mark. As stated by the Full Court in Anchorage, there is also a public interest in ensuring that marks the use of which are likely to give rise to deception or confusion are not registered as trade marks. 176 As discussed in more detail below in connection with Urban Alley's claims under the ACL and passing off, the evidence adduced by Urban Alley is insufficient for me to find that it has developed a significant reputation in the Urban Ale mark in respect of beer goods and their sale in Australia. From May 2016 until at least May 2018, Urban Alley sold the Once Bitter product. The evidence shows that both the sales volume and the marketing expenditure for that product were modest, and the Urban Ale name was only promoted in a subsidiary manner by reference to the style or flavour of the beer. In respect of the Urban Ale product, the evidence was limited to sales volume in the period from June to August 2018, which remained modest, and there was no evidence as to marketing expenditure. There was no other evidence of any weight to show that Urban Alley had developed a significant reputation in the Urban Ale mark. 177 It is uncertain whether cancellation of the Urban Ale mark would prevent Urban Alley from using the mark in connection with its products. In itself, cancellation does not prevent Urban Alley from using the mark. However, cancellation may enable the owner of the Urban Brewing Company mark to bring infringement proceedings to prevent Urban Alley from using the Urban Ale mark, whereas the registration of the Urban Ale mark would have afforded Urban Ale a defence to infringement proceedings under s 122(1)(e). Although cancellation of the Urban Ale mark exposes Urban Alley to the risk of infringement proceedings, I do not place much weight on that risk. In the first place, any assessment of the likelihood of such a proceeding, and the availability of defences to Urban Alley, involves considerable speculation. There is no evidence that the owner of the Urban Brewing Company mark has taken any step in the past to oppose the Urban Ale mark. It is also apparent that the Urban Brewing Company mark may be vulnerable to cancellation under s 41 for the same reasons that I consider the Urban Ale mark should be cancelled. Secondly and more broadly, any such proceeding would be adjudicated in accordance with the provisions of the TMA, which is entirely consistent with the public interest.

[35]

D. Trade mark infringement 180 By its statement of claim, Urban Alley alleges that La Sirène has infringed the Urban Ale mark in breach of s 120(1) of the TMA by manufacturing, advertising, marketing, offering for sale and selling beer by reference to the Urban Pale name, thereby using a mark in the course of trade in Australia which is substantially identical with and/or deceptively similar to the Urban Ale mark in connection with the goods in respect of which the Urban Ale mark is registered. 181 La Sirène does not contest Urban Alley's allegation that the Urban Pale name is substantially identical with, or deceptively similar to, the Urban Ale mark, nor that it has used the Urban Pale name in relation to goods in respect of which the Urban Ale mark is registered. Rather, La Sirène defends Urban Alley's infringement claims on the following four bases: (a) under s 120 of the TMA on the basis that it has not used the name Urban Pale as a trade mark; (b) under s 122(1)(b)(i) of the TMA on the basis that it has used the name Urban Pale in good faith to indicate the kind, quality, geographical origin, or some other characteristic, of its beer product; (c) under s 124 of the TMA on the basis that it has used an unregistered trade mark, being the word "urban", continuously in the course of trade in relation to craft beer products from before the priority date; and (d) under s 122(1)(e) on the basis that it has exercised its right to the La Sirène word and label marks in the period since the date of registration of those marks. 182 In respect of the fourth defence based on s 122(1)(e), Urban Alley has applied for an order cancelling the La Sirène word and label marks under s 88(1)(a) of the TMA on the following bases: (a) under s 44 of the TMA on the basis that the La Sirène marks are substantially identical with, or deceptively similar to, the Urban Ale mark; (b) under s 42(b) on the basis that the use of the La Sirène marks would be contrary to law because such use constitutes misleading and deceptive conduct in breach of ss 18 and 29 of the ACL and the tort of passing off; (c) under s 60 on the basis that, before the priority date of the La Sirène marks, the Urban Ale mark had acquired a reputation in Australia and, because of that reputation, use of the La Sirène marks would be likely to deceive or cause confusion; and (d) under s 88(2)(c) of the TMA, on the basis that, as at the filing date of the claim (being 11 June 2019), the use of the La Sirène marks is likely to deceive or cause confusion. 183 The issues that underpin Urban Alley's application under s 88(1)(a) overlap substantially with the issues raised in its ACL and passing off claims. For that reason, it is convenient to first address Urban Alley's trade mark infringement claim and La Sirène's defences other than the defence under s 122(1)(e). These reasons then address Urban Alley's ACL and passing off claims, then its application under s 88(1)(a) before returning to the defence under s 122(1)(e).

[36]

Relevant principles 184 Section 120(1) provides that a person infringes a registered trade mark if the person uses as a trade mark a sign that is substantially identical with, or deceptively similar to, the trade mark in relation to goods or services in respect of which the trade mark is registered. The applicant alleging infringement must show that the respondent's use of a sign is use as a trade mark. 185 In E & J Gallo Winery v Lion Nathan Australia Pty Ltd (2010) 241 CLR 144, French CJ, Gummow, Crennan and Bell JJ approved (at [43]) the statement by the Full Court of the Federal Court in Coca-Cola at [19] that: "Use 'as a trade mark' is use of the mark as a 'badge of origin' in the sense that it indicates a connection in the course of trade between goods and the person who applies the mark to the goods … That is the concept embodied in the definition of "trade mark" in s 17 - a sign used to distinguish goods dealt with in the course of trade by a person from goods so dealt with by someone else." 186 As observed by their Honours (at [42]), the essential characteristics of a trade mark are distinguishing goods of a registered owner from the goods of others and indicating a connection in the course of trade between the goods and the registered owner. 187 In Anheuser-Busch, Inc v Budějovický Budvar, Národní Podnik [2002] FCA 390; 56 IPR 182, Allsop J summarised the task of determining whether there has been use of a sign "as a trade mark" as follows (at [185]-[186]): (a) the task is to examine the way the words are used in their context, including the totality of the packaging, to assess their nature and purpose in order to see whether they are used to distinguish the goods from the goods of others; (b) the assessment is made from the perspective of what a person looking at the label would see and take from it, as to the purpose and nature of its use. 188 The Court has regard to the context of the use of the impugned sign, including factors such as the positioning of the sign, the type of font used, the size of the words or letters and the colours that are used: Mantra Group Pty Ltd v Tailly Pty Ltd (No 2) (2010) 183 FCR 450 at [50]. Use as a trade mark is more likely to be found where the impugned sign is used prominently on the alleged infringer's packaging: Aldi Stores Ltd Partnership v Frito-Lay Trading Co GmbH [2001] FCA 1874 (Aldi Stores) at [56]; 190 ALR 185; 54 IPR 344. 189 The application of the foregoing principles can be illustrated by reference to a number of the decided cases. 190 In Johnson & Johnson Australia Pty Ltd v Sterling Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd (1991) 30 FCR 326 (Johnson & Johnson), Sterling owned a registered trade mark for CAPLETS in respect of medicated tablets for human use. Johnson & Johnson launched a paracetamol product called TYLENOL and used the word CAPLETS in advertising and packaging. A key issue was whether Johnson & Johnson had used the word CAPLETS as a trade mark or whether it had used the word in a descriptive sense, referring to the form or shape of the product. The Full Federal Court found that it had not used CAPLETS as a trade mark in respect of capsule-shaped tablets (at 341 per Lockhart J, at 344 per Burchett J and at 351 per Gummow J). In reaching that conclusion, Lockhart J noted (at 341): The context in which CAPLETS appears on the TYLENOL packaging and in its advertising demonstrates plainly, in my opinion, that the use is essentially descriptive and not a badge of origin in the sense that it indicates a connection in the course of trade between the product TYLENOL and the appellant. 191 Lockhart J reached this conclusion notwithstanding the fact that "caplet" had not found its way into ordinary Australian parlance; that did not deprive it of the characteristic of a descriptive word for the purposes of trade mark law (at 339). Burchett J similarly noted that (at 343-344): No one looking at the packet could doubt that the product was sold under the name Tylenol, that the company concerned in its sale was Johnson & Johnson, and that it had been made up in the form of the stated number of caplets. 192 In Pepsico Australia Pty Ltd v Kettle Chip Co Pty Ltd (1996) 135 ALR 192; 33 IPR 161; AIPC 91-213, the Full Federal Court found that the word "KETTLE" was not used as a trade mark in respect of "THINS" potato chips (at 163 per Lockhart J, at 169 per Sheppard J and at 188 per Sackville J). Lockhart J rejected the argument that there were three marks used on the allegedly infringing product, namely Thins, DOUBLE CRUNCH and KETTLE COOKED (at 163). Lockhart J explained the particular problems arising with the use of descriptive words (at 162): It is easier to find infringement of a registered mark where it consists of a coined phrase (see Mark Foys Limited v Davies Coop & Co Limited (1956) 95 CLR 190 (the Tub Happy Case) than in a case where the registered mark is a generally descriptive word which has acquired a secondary meaning, so becoming distinctive of the plaintiff's goods as a badge of origin. The reason is that there is always inherent in a word that is originally descriptive the risk that even when it is used by others in trade it will be used in its original descriptive sense. And of course, where a word that is initially descriptive subsequently acquires a secondary meaning, it remains that use of the word in a descriptive sense cannot be restrained by the proprietor of the trade mark. 193 Sackville J noted that the use of distinctive marks (THINS and perhaps DOUBLE CRUNCH) on the packet had a bearing on whether the words KETTLE COOKED had been used to show the commercial origin of the product, or whether they have some other purpose and effect (at 182). Sackville J declined an invitation to assess the subjective intentions behind the use of KETTLE COOKED. Instead, his Honour focussed on the essentially objective nature of the inquiry as to whether those words were used as a trade mark: "that is to be determined by considering the words as they present themselves to the persons who are to read them and form a view about what they are meant to connote" (at 187). 194 In Mars Australia Pty Ltd v Sweet Rewards Pty Ltd [2009] FCAFC 174; 84 IPR 12; [2010] AIPC 92-364, the Full Federal Court upheld the decision of Perram J (reported at [2009] FCA 606; 81 IPR 354; AIPC 92-344) that the name "Malt Balls" was used on Sweet Rewards' malt ball product descriptively and not as a trade mark, and therefore its use did not infringe Mars' trade mark "Maltesers". Sweet Rewards' product was packaged as shown below: 195 The Full Court agreed with Perram J's findings that the use of the DELFI mark was the use of a trade mark and that the DELFI mark was the distinguishing feature of the Sweet Rewards product ((2009) 81 IPR 354 at [91] per Perram J; (2009) 84 IPR 12 at [29] per Emmett, Bennett and Edmonds JJ). Perram J noted there may be cases where one label bears two marks, but this was not such a case (at [91]). 196 In Aldi Stores, the Full Federal Court concluded that the name "Cheezy Twists" used on the packaging of an Aldi product containing cheese flavoured snacks was used as a trade mark, despite the name being essentially descriptive of the product and also being used with another trade mark on the packaging, "Chazoos" (at [26] per Hill J, at [57] and [58] per Lindgren J, and at [182] per Conti J). In reaching that conclusion, the Court took into account the prominence with which the name "Cheezy Twists" appeared on the packaging, and the fact that a descriptive statement, "cheese flavoured snacks", also appeared on the packaging below the name.

[38]

La Sirène's submissions 201 La Sirène submitted that, on the packaging of the Urban Pale product, the commercial source of the product is identified by the stylised brand name "La Sirène" and that the name "Urban Pale" is rendered in plain font and has a descriptive role in identifying the product as a pale ale made in an urban setting. It submitted that the commercial source of the product is reinforced by reading the labelling as a whole. Viewed from a consumer's perspective, the product would be seen as branded to convey that the beer emanates from "La Sirène" (made clear by the use of the preposition "by"), and that the style of the beer is described as a "Farmhouse Style Urban Pale". Only the words "La Sirène" would appear to consumers as possessing the character of a brand for the purpose of indicating the trade source origin. La Sirène relies on the following opinions expressed by Mr Kirkegaard: The use of the words "Farmhouse Style" and "Pale" assist the consumer to get a sense of the characteristics they would expect from this beer, even though it does not fit into any recognised style. "Farmhouse" has a distinct meaning in the craft beer industry, as does "pale". In the context of the name of the product the word "urban" does not convey anything about the taste or flavour profile of the product per se but provides a contrast because La Sirène is an urban based brewery producing farmhouse style ales, which were historically produced in rural locations. 202 La Sirène argued that descriptive terms may appear on product labelling with relatively large lettering and a different font without losing their descriptive effect, a good example being "Malt Balls" on the Sweet Rewards product. The correct approach is to examine the way words are used in the context of the totality of the packaging from the perspective of a person looking at the packaging, to assess the nature and purpose of the words in order to see whether they are used to distinguish the goods from the goods of others. It argued that a consumer viewing the La Sirène product would read that the product is made "by La Sirène". The consumer would not read the words "Urban Pale" in isolation and would not consider those words to be a brand of beer, as opposed to a style of beer, given the inherently descriptive nature of that term. 203 La Sirène submitted that the fact that it applied to register "Urban Pale" as a trade mark is irrelevant; the question whether a sign has been used as a trade mark involves an objective assessment from the perspective of a consumer. La Sirène also says that it opted not to proceed with the application due to the number of third parties using the word "urban" in relation to beer and the descriptive nature of the word.

[39]

Consideration 204 On the question of trade mark use, there are factors pointing in different directions. On balance, Urban Alley has not satisfied me that La Sirène has used the name "Urban Pale" as a trade mark. Rather, the evidence leads me to conclude that La Sirène has used the name as a product name that is descriptive of the nature and style of the beer product. 205 It is apparent that the labelling of the La Sirène Urban Pale product features the words "Urban Pale" in large lettering and an emboldened font. It is the most prominent name on the labelling. However, for the following reasons, I do not consider that that prominence converts the essentially descriptive name into a trade mark indicating the source of origin of the product. 206 First, I consider that the words "by La Sirène" are sufficiently prominent on the label to convey to a consumer that La Sirène is the source of origin of the product. While those words are somewhat less prominent than the words "Urban Pale", in my view that is counterbalanced by the clear message conveyed by those words that the product has been made by La Sirène. 207 Second, and for reasons given earlier, the words "urban" and "pale", when used in connection with beer, would be understood by consumers as describing the nature and style of the beer: the word "urban" signifies that the product is presenting itself as a craft beer and the word "pale" indicates a common style of beer (pale ale). As the cases show, a descriptive name of a product may also function as a trade mark, indicating a source of origin. However, it is less likely. In the present case, I consider that the name "Urban Pale" is overwhelmingly descriptive, such that consumers would understand the name to be a description of the product's nature and style and would not consider that the name is used to distinguish the goods from the goods of others. 208 Third, I do not accept the submission of Urban Alley that La Sirène has commonly used the name "Urban Pale" on its own and in a manner to distinguish the Urban Pale product from other products. As already noted, the source of origin of the product is clearly identified on the product label as La Sirène. The other uses of the name relied on by Urban Alley were on La Sirène's website and Instagram account. As Eva Nikias said in evidence, all such uses of the Urban Pale name were closely associated with the La Sirène brand, because the La Sirène brand is prominently displayed on both its website and its Instagram account. No consumer could see those references without understanding that the origin of the product was La Sirène. In my view, and as stated by Eva Nikias in evidence, if a consumer only saw the name "Urban Pale", the consumer would have no information as to the origin of the product. 209 Fourth, I place no weight on the fact that La Sirène filed a trade mark application for the words "Urban Pale". The authorities show that the question whether a sign has been used as a trade mark is essentially an objective question. Even if La Sirène's subjective intention with respect to the use of the name can have some bearing on the question, as noted earlier I accept Eva Nikias' evidence that La Sirène withdrew the application because of the number of third parties already using the word "urban" in relation to beer and the word "pale" is a shorthand description of a very popular style of beer. 210 For those reasons, I consider that La Sirène has not used the name "Urban Pale" as a trade mark and, accordingly, it has not infringed the Urban Ale mark.

[40]

Relevant principles 211 Section 122(1)(b)(i) of the TMA provides as follows: In spite of section 120, a person does not infringe a registered trade mark when: … (b) the person uses a sign in good faith to indicate: (i) the kind, quality, quantity, intended purpose, value, geographical origin, or some other characteristic, of goods or services; … 212 La Sirène bears the onus of establishing that the defence under s 122(1)(b)(i) (as well as under ss 124 and 122(1)(e)) is made out: Cantarella Bros Pty Ltd v Kona Coffee Roastery & Equipment Supplies Pty Ltd (1993) 28 IPR 176 at 179; [1994] AIPC 91-048. 213 The principles governing this defence were recently summarised by Burley J in Bohemia Crystal at [291]-[299]. His Honour observed that: (a) The purpose of s 122(1) is to protect the fundamental right of a trader to honestly describe his or her product. It has been said to provide a "second-line" mechanism to preserve the freedom of traders to use descriptive terms, with the "first line" mechanism being that a use of the mark will only infringe if it is used as a trade mark. (b) The policy underlying s 122(1)(b)(i) may be seen to lie in a consistent aim in trade marks legislation to ensure that traders may continue to use language in respect of their goods or services insofar as it represents the normal usage of the English language, referring to the observations of Mansfield J in Britt Allcroft (Thomas) LLC v Miller (t/as Thomas Shop) [2000] FCA 699 at [67]; 49 IPR 7; ATPR 41-776. (c) Although the same circumstances might lead to a finding that the use of a sign is not use as a trade mark and the defence in s 120(1)(b)(i) is satisfied, the two issues involve different enquiries. Section 122(1)(b)(i) concerns the question whether the respondent has used the sign in good faith to indicate geographical origin, or some other characteristic of the goods in question, which is a factual question. (d) The good faith element requires the respondent to show that they have acted honestly and without ulterior motive, citing Johnson & Johnson at 353-354 per Gummow J and Nature's Blend Pty Ltd v Nestle Australia Ltd [2010] FCA 198 at [42] per Sundberg J; 86 IPR 1; AIPC 92-375. 214 Resemblance between a registered trade mark, of which a defendant is aware, and the sign used by that defendant does not prevent the use being bona fide provided that there was an honest belief that no confusion would arise and there was no intention of wrongfully diverting business: Wellness Pty Ltd v Pro Bio Living Waters Pty Ltd [2004] FCA 438 at [43] per Bennett J; 61 IPR 242; AIPC 91-983.

[43]

Consideration 218 The issue between the parties on the application of s 122(1)(b)(i) is relatively narrow. In closing submissions, Urban Alley did not suggest that La Sirène had adopted the name Urban Pale dishonestly or with an ulterior motive. 219 As submitted by La Sirène, the evidence showed that La Sirène adopted the name "Farmhouse Style Urban Pale by La Sirène" before it knew about the Urban Ale mark and did so for the ordinary signification of the word "urban" when used in connection with beer. Relevantly, La Sirène commenced using the word "urban" in connection with its business (in the context of describing itself as an "urban farmhouse") in December 2015, well before Urban Alley conceived of the name "urban ale". In late February 2016, Eva Nikias conducted searches of the Register of Trade Marks and other internet resources. Having conducted those searches, on 13 April 2016 La Sirène filed its trade mark application for "Urban Farmhouse Brewing Co" in class 32, which was subsequently registered. Ultimately, La Sirène settled on the name "Farmhouse Style Urban Pale by La Sirène" some time between June and October 2016. 220 Urban Alley made no public use of the Urban Ale mark until May 2016. Even after it commenced public use, Urban Alley's use was limited in volume and was the subject of minimal marketing. The Urban Ale mark was also used in a subsidiary manner on the Once Bitter product, where the name "Once Bitter" was the dominant mark on the labelling of the product and in marketing. 221 I accept Eva Nikias' evidence that she found out about Urban Alley's Urban Ale mark upon receiving the Trade Marks Office's adverse report (which was after the filing of La Sirène's application for Urban Pale on 4 November 2016). I also accept her evidence that La Sirène adopted the word "urban" as part of the name of its product because it described a key element of its product. 222 I do not accept Urban Alley's argument that the defence in s 122(1)(b)(i) was not satisfied because the word "urban" is too nebulous to indicate the kind, quality, geographic origin or any other characteristic of beer. For the reasons given earlier, in my view the word "urban" has a tangible meaning when used in relation to beer products. At one level, it describes the beer as having been produced in a city location and, at another level, it connotes that the beer has been produced in an inner-city craft brewery. The use of the word is descriptive and laudatory, conveying that the product is cool or trendy and suited to inner-city beer drinkers. As such, the word "urban", when used in connection with beer, indicates the kind, quality or other characteristic of the product. 223 Accordingly, La Sirène has satisfied me that the defence to infringement in s 122(1)(b)(i) applies to its use of the words "Urban Pale".

[50]

Relevant principles - passing off 235 The elements of the action for passing off are usually expressed in terms of the "classic trinity" expounded by Lord Oliver in Reckitt and Colman Products Ltd v Borden Inc (1990) 17 IPR 1 at 7: see ConAgra Inc v McCain Foods (Aust) Pty Ltd (1992) 33 FCR 302 (ConAgra) at 356 per Gummow J; Bodum v DKSH Australia Pty Ltd [2011] FCAFC 98 (Bodum) at [212] per Greenwood, Tracey and Buchanan JJ; 280 ALR 639; 92 IPR 222; Stone & Wood Group Pty Ltd v Intellectual Property Development Corporation Pty Ltd [2018] FCAFC 29 at [82] per Allsop CJ, Nicholas and Katzmann JJ; 357 ALR 15; 129 IPR 238. Those elements are: (a) a reputation in the get-up of the plaintiff's products such that the get-up is recognised by relevant purchasers as distinctive of the plaintiff's products; (b) a misrepresentation (whether intentionally or unintentionally) by the defendant's use of the same or a similar get-up to indicate that the defendant's products are the same as the plaintiff's products or come from the same source; and (c) damage flowing from the erroneous belief engendered by the misrepresentation. 236 There is a presumption of damage upon the proof of the first two elements: Draper v Trist [1939] 3 All ER 513 at 525-7 per Goddard LJ; 56 RPC 429; Childrens Television Workshop Inc v Woolworths (NSW) Ltd [1981] 1 NSWLR 273 at 281-2 per Helsham CJ in Eq; Madden v Seafolly Pty Ltd [2014] FCAFC 30 at [116] and [117] per Rares and Robertson JJ; 313 ALR 1. 237 There is no requirement to prove subjective intention to mislead or actual deception: B M Auto Sales Pty Ltd v Budget Rent A Car System Pty Ltd (1977) 12 ALR 363 at 370-1 per Gibbs J; 51 ALJR 254; Verrocchi v Direct Chemist Outlet Pty Ltd (2016) 247 FCR 570 at [103] per Nicholas, Murphy and Beach JJ. Further, the misrepresentation need only be likely to lead the public to believe that the goods are those of the plaintiff: Bodum at [214] per Greenwood, Tracey and Buchanan JJ. 238 Reputation is a matter of fact. It is necessary to consider the extent to which the distinguishing sign or get-up is known to the relevant section of the public. Typically, the applicant in a passing off case establishes its reputation through evidence relating to: the volume of its sales; the extent and nature of its advertising, marketing and promotional activities; and the length of time, and geographical area, in which these activities have taken place: see for example McCormick & Company Inc v McCormick [2000] FCA 1335 (McCormick) at [85]-[87]; 51 IPR 102; ConAgra at 343 and 346 per Lockhart J; and Nutrientwater Pty Ltd v Baco Pty Ltd [2010] FCA 2 at [16] per Kenny J; 265 ALR 140; 84 IPR 452. 239 As a practical matter, reputation will be more difficult to establish if the applicant uses a mark that is descriptive of its products: Hornsby at 229-230 per Stephen J (with whom Barwick CJ and Jacobs J agreed). 240 The relevant date for assessing the sufficiency of the reputation of an applicant in a passing off case is the date of commencement of the impugned conduct: Optical 88 Ltd v Optical 88 Pty Ltd (No 2) [2010] FCA 1380 at [328] and [333] per Yates J; 275 ALR 526; 89 IPR 457 and the cases cited therein. In that case, Yates J rejected the contention that, if an applicant strengthens its reputation between the date of commencement of the impugned conduct and the commencement of proceedings, it is entitled to rely on that stronger reputation for the purpose of establishing the contravention, concluding (at [333]): …If, on the other hand, the applicant cannot establish that, as at the date of commencement of the impugned conduct, it had a sufficient reputation to sustain its claim, I cannot see how any after-acquired reputation can assist it in the face of what would otherwise have been the legitimate commencement and continued conduct of the first respondent's business.

[51]

Relevant principles - misleading and deceptive conduct 241 Urban Alley relies on ss 18(1) and 29(1)(g) and (h) of the ACL which provide as follows: 18 Misleading or deceptive conduct (1) A person must not, in trade or commerce, engage in conduct that is misleading or deceptive or is likely to mislead or deceive. 29 False or misleading representations about goods or services (1) A person must not, in trade or commerce, in connection with the supply or possible supply of goods or services or in connection with the promotion by any means of the supply or use of goods or services: … (g) make a false or misleading representation that goods or services have sponsorship, approval, performance characteristics, accessories, uses or benefits; or (h) make a false or misleading representation that the person making the representation has a sponsorship, approval or affiliation… 242 It has long been recognised that a misrepresentation as to the source of a trader's goods is not only an element in the tort of passing off, it can also constitute misleading or deceptive conduct under s 18, and a misrepresentation for the purposes of s 29(1)(g) and (h) of the ACL. As the Full Court said in Cadbury Schweppes at [97]: "If particular branding elements used by a trader have been identified in a special way with that trader in the minds of members of the public, there may be misleading or deceptive conduct by reason of the appropriation of those particular branding elements by another trader". The Full Court explained that the relevant question "is whether the use of the particular get-up or name by an alleged wrongdoer in relation to his product is likely to mislead or deceive persons familiar with the claimant's product to believe that the two products are associated, having regard to the state of the knowledge of consumers in Australia of the claimant's product" (at [99]). 243 The principles applicable to s 18 of the ACL are well known. They were recently summarised in the context of "passing off" type cases by Beach J in Flexopack at [259]-[277] and by Moshinsky J in Stone & Wood at [174]-[192]. I gratefully adopt those summaries. The principles that are of significance in the present case are: (a) Where, as here, the issue is the effect of conduct on a class of persons (rather than identified individuals to whom a particular misrepresentation has been made or particular conduct directed), the effect of the conduct or representations upon ordinary or reasonable members of that class must be considered: Flexopack at [261]. (b) Conduct is misleading or deceptive or likely to mislead or deceive if it has a tendency to lead into error, but conduct causing mere confusion or wonderment will not establish misleading or deceptive conduct: Flexopack at [263]. (c) Conduct will be likely to mislead or deceive if there is a real but not remote chance or possibility that the relevant conduct is misleading or deceptive: Flexopack at [264]. (d) Whether or not conduct is misleading or deceptive or likely to mislead or deceive is a question of fact, which must be determined by the court having regard to all the relevant circumstances, including the history of the applicant's product, the circumstances in which the respondent's get-up was adopted, and the circumstances prevailing in the market at the relevant time: Flexopack at [262]; Stone & Wood at [176]. (e) In the case of a descriptive or generic word, for an applicant to establish misleading or deceptive conduct it may need to demonstrate that the word has acquired a secondary meaning and become distinctive of the applicant's business. Whether a secondary meaning exists is a question of fact to be determined having regard to all the relevant contextual circumstances. It will generally be more difficult to establish that a descriptive name, as opposed to a concocted or invented name, has become distinctive of the applicant's business: Flexopack at [271]; Stone & Wood at [181] - [183]. (f) The relevant date for assessing whether a respondent's conduct amounts to misleading or deceptive conduct is the date the conduct commenced: Flexopack at [275]. 244 Similar principles govern the application of s 29 of the ACL: ACCC v Dukemaster Pty Ltd [2009] FCA 682 at [14] per Gordon J; ASAL 55-196; ATPR 42-290; ACCC v Turi Foods Pty Ltd (No 4) [2013] FCA 665 at [78]; ATPR 42-448; ACCC v Coles Supermarkets Australia Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 634 at [40] per Allsop CJ; 317 ALR 73; ATPR 42-475.

[54]

251 Second, La Sirène submitted that, as at October 2016, Urban Alley's use of the Urban Ale mark on its Once Bitter product was minor and essentially descriptive, and the sales of the product had been modest, such that the passing off and ACL claims ought to fail for lack of sufficient reputation. In particular, it argued that: (a) Urban Alley had sold a small volume of product to an undefined number of hotels, pubs and independent bottle shops located in Melbourne; (b) Urban Alley had only engaged in very modest marketing activities; (c) on 24 November 2016, Mr Meltzer admitted in a podcast interview that the "Urban Ale" brand was not a recognised brand and Mr Meltzer's interviewer did not know that Urban Alley existed; and (d) Urban Alley did not launch a website advertising the Once Bitter product until November 2016, after La Sirène had commenced selling its Urban Pale product and, even then, Urban Alley's website promoted the Once Bitter product under and by reference to the trade mark "Once Bitter", with only scant reference to the phrase "Urban Ale" in the context of describing the style of beer. 252 Third, a comparison of the Urban Pale and Once Bitter products shows that there are significant and obvious differences which distinguish them, including: (a) the prominent and distinctive Once Bitter mark on the Once Bitter product; (b) the prominent distinguishing feature on the Urban Pale product, consisting of the well-known La Sirène brand; (c) the many other different visual features of the two products, including the colours used on the labels and the distinctive background pattern on the La Sirène Urban Pale product; and (d) the context in which the word "urban" is used on the La Sirène product, as part of a composite description of the product "Farmhouse Style Urban Pale by La Sirène". 253 Fourth, La Sirène argued that it is well-established that where the trade indicia which are asserted to have been taken by La Sirène (Urban Pale) are typically used by the applicant in conjunction with other indicia, the "ordinary reasonable consumer is to be credited with awareness of this when confronted with the allegedly misleading" conduct: Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd v Darrell Lea Chocolate Shops Pty Ltd (No 8) [2008] FCA 470 at [65]; 75 IPR 557; ATPR 42-229. It says that in this case, as at the relevant date, the use of "Urban Ale" by Urban Alley would have been seen by consumers to be inextricably bound-up with the product name "Once Bitter" and, in the absence of that name, would not convey the same source of origin. 254 Fifth, a further difficulty in this case is the fact that the name "Urban Pale" is descriptive, such that even small differences in trade names will render the latter immune from action.

[55]

Consideration 255 In my view, the submissions of La Sirène should be accepted and those of Urban Alley should be rejected. As at the date that La Sirène launched its Urban Pale product, I do not believe that any segment of the market into which Urban Alley and La Sirène sold their respective products would have been misled by the packaging of La Sirène's product or its associated marketing into believing that the products had the same source. There are four overwhelming reasons why La Sirène's marketing and sale of its Urban Pale product does not infringe ss 18, 29(1)(g) or (h) of the ACL or constitute passing off. 256 First, for the reasons explained earlier, the name "Urban Ale" is descriptive of Urban Alley's beer product. The ordinary signification of the word "urban" to a beer consumer is that the beer was brewed in an urban area, and the consumer may also understand the word to imply that the beer is from an inner city craft brewery. The word "ale" is a well-known classification of beer. As explained by Stephen J (with whom Barwick CJ and Jacobs J agreed) in Hornsby (at 229-230): There is a price to be paid for the advantages flowing from the possession of an eloquently descriptive trade name. Because it is descriptive it is equally applicable to any business of a like kind, its very descriptiveness ensures that it is not distinctive of any particular business and hence its application to other like businesses will not ordinarily mislead the public. In cases of passing off, where it is the wrongful appropriation of the reputation of another or that of his goods that is in question, a plaintiff which uses descriptive words in its trade name will find that quite small differences in a competitor's trade name will render the latter immune from action (Office Cleaning Services Ltd. v. Westminster Window and General Cleaners Ltd. (36), per Lord Simonds). As his Lordship said (37), the possibility of blunders by members of the public will always be present when names consist of descriptive words - "So long as descriptive words are used by two traders as part of their respective trade names, it is possible that some members of the public will be confused whatever the differentiating words may be." The risk of confusion must be accepted, to do otherwise is to give to one who appropriates to himself descriptive words an unfair monopoly in those words and might even deter others from pursuing the occupation which the words describe. If this be so in the case of passing off actions the case of s. 52 (1), concerned only with the interests of third parties, is a fortiori. To allow this section of the Trade Practices Act to be used as an instrument for the creation of any monopoly in descriptive names would be to mock the manifest intent of the legislation. Given that a name is no more than merely descriptive of a particular type of business, its use by others who carry on that same type of business does not deceive or mislead as to the nature of the business described. 257 Second, while a descriptive word may become distinctive of a producer's goods through use, the evidence falls well short of establishing that Urban Alley had a reputation in the name Urban Ale as at October 2016. The evidence establishes the following: (a) As at October 2016, Urban Alley sold the Once Bitter product, the label for which bears the dominant brand "Once Bitter", with the words "Urban Ale" appearing in a subsidiary manner. (b) To that point in time, the associated promotion of the product, such as it was, also focussed on the Once Bitter brand and referred to the name Urban Ale as a descriptor of the flavour or style of the product (by reference to other common names for the style of craft beer, being an Australian golden ale and Belgian blonde). The promotion of the product was limited to table talkers for display on the tables and bars at the Network Public Bar located at Southern Cross Station, Melbourne, and decals for use on beer taps in bars and pubs where the product was sold. That material took largely the same form as the labelling and packaging of the Once Bitter product, with the dominant feature of the labelling being the words "Once Bitter" and the words "Urban Ale" featuring on the labelling in a subsidiary manner. A press release dated 8 September 2016 promoting the Once Bitter product also referred to the product by the name "Once Bitter", and only used the name "Urban Ale" in a subsidiary manner in connection with the style or flavour of the beer. An online article in a publication called "We Know Melbourne" dated 16 September 2016 and an article in The Age newspaper on 20 September 2016 referred to the product in the same manner. (c) By October 2016, the sales of the Once Bitter product were very modest, comprising some 288 kegs (50 litres) and some 283 cases of bottles (each case being 24 bottles). Extrapolating from the available evidence, revenue from sales of the Once Bitter product in the period from May to October 2016 is likely to have been in the range of $90,000 to $100,000, while marketing expenditure in the same period is likely to have been about $25,000. While that level of sales and marketing expenditure might be sufficient to establish a reputation in the case of a distinctive brand or get-up, in my view it does not establish that, through use, Urban Alley acquired a reputation in the name Urban Ale by October 2016 such that the name was recognised by relevant purchasers as distinctive of Urban Alley's product. 258 Third, the packaging and labelling of the La Sirène Urban Pale product differed in fundamental ways from the packaging and labelling of the Once Bitter product. The following features can be noted: (a) The Once Bitter product was sold in kegs and bottles, whereas the Urban Pale product was sold in cans. (b) The dominant brand on the Once Bitter bottles and decals used on taps in pubs was "Once Bitter", with "Urban Ale" being a subsidiary label. In contrast, the dominant brand on the Urban Pale product was a mixture of the "Urban Pale" and "La Sirène" labels. While the name La Sirène was not as immediately prominent as the name Urban Pale, the former name has a prominence by virtue of being a name in the French language (signified by the French definite article "La" and the use of the grave accent over the letter "e" in "Sirène") and also by virtue of appearing in the phrase "By La Sirène". (c) On the Once Bitter product, the name Once Bitter was rendered in white fancy lettering over a darker background, and the name Urban Ale was rendered in smaller cursive font in a less prominent red-brown colour. On the Urban Pale product, the Urban Pale name was in an emboldened plain font in white over a blue background with a distinctive art-deco pattern. 259 Fourth, La Sirène promoted and marketed the Urban Pale product as being produced by La Sirène. That promotion occurred on the product packaging and labelling, as already noted, and also on La Sirène's website and Instagram account.

[57]

F. La Sirène's Trade Marks 261 In defence of Urban Alley's trade mark infringement claim, La Sirène also relies on s 122(1)(e) of the TMA which affords a defence when a person has exercised a right to use a trade mark given to the person under the TMA. La Sirène relies on the La Sirène word mark (Farmhouse Style Urban Pale by La Sirène), which is registered in class 32 in relation to beer with a priority date of 24 October 2018, and the La Sirène label mark depicted below, which is also registered in class 32 in relation to beer with a priority date of 26 October 2018: 262 It is common ground that, if La Sirène is entitled to rely on the defence, it applies in the period since the date of registration of those marks, being 24 and 26 October 2018 respectively. 263 Urban Alley's first contention is that La Sirène is not able to rely on the defence in s 122(1)(e) because it has not made ordinary use of the La Sirène word mark consistently with the rights granted to it pursuant to the registration. It relied on the decision in Eli Lilly & Co v Chelsea Drug & Chemical Co [1966] RPC 14. In that case, the plaintiff's registered mark was "V-CIL-K" while the defendant's registered mark was "ECONOCIL-VK", but the defendant was using its mark as "econoCIL-VK" (the lower case letters being one quarter the size of the upper case letters). The Court found that the defence of exercising a registered right was unavailable because there was too great a variation in the mark used by the defendant and its registered mark. The Court granted an injunction but with the proviso that the defendant could use the mark in the form "Econocil-VK", or in consistently sized lettering. 264 The first contention does not assist Urban Alley. Whatever may be the position with respect to La Sirène's word mark, s 122(1)(e) also applies to La Sirène's label mark which is identical to the packaging and labelling of La Sirène's Urban Pale product. Accordingly, the s 122(1)(e) defence is available to La Sirène in respect of its label mark. 265 Urban Alley's second contention is that the La Sirène word and label marks should be cancelled under s 88(1)(a) of the TMA on the following grounds: (a) under s 44 of the TMA on the basis that the La Sirène marks are substantially identical with, or deceptively similar to, the registered Urban Ale mark; (b) under s 42(b) on the basis that the use of the La Sirène marks would be contrary to law because such use constitutes misleading and deceptive conduct in breach of ss 18 and 29 of the ACL and the tort of passing off; (c) under s 60 on the basis that, before the priority date of the La Sirène marks, the Urban Ale mark had acquired a reputation in Australia and, because of that reputation, use of the La Sirène marks would be likely to deceive or cause confusion; and (d) under s 88(2)(c) of the TMA, on the basis that, as at the filing date of the claim (being 11 June 2019), the use of the La Sirène marks is likely to deceive or cause confusion. 266 Grounds (a) and (b) can be dismissed based on my earlier findings. In relation to ground (a), I have found that the Urban Ale mark held by Urban Alley should be cancelled, thereby removing the basis for opposition and cancellation of the La Sirène word and label marks under s 44. In relation to ground (b), I have found that the marketing and sale of La Sirène's Urban Pale product did not constitute misleading or deceptive conduct in breach of ss 18 and 29 of the ACL or the tort of passing off. For the same reasons, I reject Urban Alley's opposition to the La Sirène word and label marks under s 42(b) of the TMA. 267 It remains then to consider grounds (c) and (d). The grounds are similar, in that they both ask whether the use of the La Sirène marks is likely to deceive or cause confusion. Ground (c) considers that question as at the priority date of the La Sirène marks, being 24 and 26 October 2018 respectively, whereas ground (d) considers the question as at the filing date of the claim, being 11 June 2019. The question in ground (c) is also narrower than the question in ground (d) in that the relevant cause of the deception or confusion in ground (c) is confined to the reputation (if any) of the Urban Ale mark in Australia. However, in the present case, Urban Alley relies on the reputation of its Urban Ale mark under both grounds. 268 The dispute between the parties is focussed on the question whether, at the two relevant dates (October 2018 and July 2019), the Urban Ale mark had acquired a reputation in Australia such that the use of the La Sirène word or label marks would be likely to deceive or cause confusion. 269 Reputation means the recognition of a mark by the public generally: Austin, Nichols & Co Inc v Lodestar Anstalt (2012) 202 FCR 490 at [45]. Reputation may be found to exist based on evidence of sales and promotional activities: ConAgra at 343; McCormick at [84]-[88]. To make out opposition under s 60, it is necessary to demonstrate a "significant" or "substantial" reputation, although the extent of the reputation required may vary depending on the market in question: ConAgra at 346 (per Lockhart J) and Le Cordon Bleu BV v Cordon Bleu International Ltee (2000) 50 IPR 1 at [91] (per Heerey J). 270 The evidence adduced by Urban Alley as to its reputation in the Urban Ale mark does not satisfy me that grounds of cancellation (c) and (d) are made out. 271 In the period until May 2018, Urban Ale marketed and sold its Once Bitter product. The use of the Urban Ale mark was secondary, and the use was intended to indicate the style or flavour of the beer. The evidence does not support a finding that, in that period, the Urban Ale mark acquired a secondary meaning associated with the particular style or flavour of Urban Alley's beer product, or otherwise acquired a reputation that distinguished Urban Alley's product. 272 From May 2018, Urban Alley repackaged its beer, adopting the Urban Ale mark as the dominant brand. However, the evidence concerning the sales and marketing of the repackaged product is very limited. That evidence continues to about August 2018, without differentiating between the Urban Ale product and the Once Bitter product (which Urban Alley continued to sell for an indeterminate time). 273 The further difficulty confronting Urban Alley is the descriptive character of the name "Urban Ale". As discussed earlier, while a descriptive name may become distinctive of a producer's goods and thereby acquire a reputation, that is less likely than in the case of a word that is made up or has an allusive or metaphorical meaning in relation to the goods. In the present case, the evidence adduced by Urban Alley of its use of the Urban Ale mark does not satisfy me that, through use, the Urban Ale mark has acquired a reputation that would result in the use of the La Sirène word and label marks being deceptive or causing confusion. 274 For the foregoing reasons, I dismiss Urban Alley's application to cancel the registration of the La Sirène word and label marks. I also uphold La Sirène's defence to trade mark infringement based on s 122(1)(e) of the Act (in respect of the period from the date of registration).

[59]

Relevant principles 277 Section 129 of the TMA provides as follows: 129 Groundless threats of legal proceedings (1) If a person threatens to bring an action against another person (threatened person) on the ground that the threatened person has infringed: (a) a registered trade mark; or (b) a trade mark alleged by the person to be registered; any person aggrieved by the threat (plaintiff) may bring an action (either in a prescribed court or in any other court having jurisdiction) against the person making the threat (defendant). Note: For prescribed court see section 190. (2) The purpose of the action is to obtain from the court: (a) a declaration that the defendant has no grounds for making the threat; and (b) an injunction restraining the defendant from continuing to make the threat. The plaintiff may also recover any damages that he or she has sustained because of the defendant's conduct. (3) The action may be brought whether or not the defendant is the registered owner, or an authorised user, of the trade mark alleged to have been infringed. Note: For authorised user see section 8. (4) The court may not find in favour of the plaintiff if the defendant satisfies the court that: (a) the trade mark is registered; and (b) the acts of the threatened person in respect of which the defendant threatened to bring an action constitute an infringement of the trade mark. (5) An action may not be brought, or (if brought) may not proceed, under this section if the registered owner of the trade mark, or an authorised user of the trade mark having power to bring an action for infringement of the trade mark, with due diligence, begins and pursues an action against the threatened person for infringement of the trade mark. Note: An authorised user of the trade mark may not have power to bring an action for infringement of the trade mark because of the terms of the agreement between the authorised user and the registered owner of the trade mark (see section 26). (6) This section does not make a lawyer, registered trade marks attorney or patent attorney liable to an action for an act done in a professional capacity on behalf of a client. Note: For lawyer, registered trade marks attorney and patent attorney see section 6. 278 The text and structure of the section indicate that the section is not concerned with the question whether a person, who threatens to bring a trade mark infringement action against another person, has a reasonable basis for believing that the other person has infringed. The section is concerned with the question whether the allegation is correct. Subsection (1) empowers an aggrieved person to bring proceedings upon the making of a threat, and subsection (2) then empowers the Court to give declaratory and injunctive relief and make an award of damages. Those powers are not conditioned on the Court making a finding that the person making the threat had no reasonable basis for the threat. The primary defence to an action under s 129, in subsection (4), is to show that the acts to which the threat was directed constitute a trade mark infringement. As recently observed by Moshinsky J in Stone & Wood (at [233]): It appears from the text and structure of s 129 that, where the terms of s 129(1) apply, subject to sub-sections (5) and (6), a defendant to an action under s 129 can only succeed if the defendant satisfies the court of the matters referred to in s 129(4), namely that the trade mark is registered and that the acts of the threatened person in respect of which the defendant threatened to bring an action constitute an infringement of the trade mark. Thus it is insufficient for the defendant to show, for example, a bona fide belief that the acts of the threatened person constituted infringement; the defendant must establish infringement: cf Coogi Australia Pty Ltd v Hysport International Pty Ltd (1998) 86 FCR 154 at 193 per Drummond J, in relation to s 202 of the Copyright Act 1968 (Cth); and Bradken Resources Pty Ltd v Lynx Engineering Consultants Pty Ltd (2008) 78 IPR 586 at [39] per Emmett J, in relation to ss 128 and 129 of the Patents Act 1990 (Cth). 279 It might be thought that s 129 is primarily directed to the circumstance where a person has threatened to bring trade mark infringement proceedings against another person but has not followed through, and the other person wishes to obtain declaratory relief from the Court that his or her actions do not constitute an infringement, and associated relief arising from a groundless threat. However, subsection (5) makes clear that a claim may be made under s 129(1) even if the first person has commenced proceedings for trade mark infringement. Thus, in a claim for infringement and a cross claim under s 129 on the basis of groundless threats, the Court may find that the acts do not constitute an infringement and correspondingly grant declaratory relief under s 129. A claim under s 129 cannot proceed, though, if the person who has made the threat brings and pursues an action for infringement with due diligence. The policy of subsection (5) appears to be that the harm arising from the threat of bringing proceedings is removed if proceedings are brought and pursued with due diligence, as the matter is then brought before the Court with due diligence. 280 In Stone & Wood, Moshinsky J surveyed a number of cases in which the due diligence test has been applied (at [234]-[237]). Each case is fact specific and it would be unwise to attempt to draw any statement of principle from the cases.

[62]

Consideration 284 In my view, La Sirène's application against Urban Alley under s 129 must be dismissed because Urban Alley did not threaten to bring an action against La Sirène. The threat was made by Urban Alley's predecessor in title, CSBC. 285 The Urban Ale mark was first registered by CSBC on 11 January 2017 with a priority date of 14 June 2016. The threat to bring trade mark infringement proceedings, on which La Sirène relies in its claim under s 129, was made on 23 March 2017 by CSBC and not by Urban Alley. The evidence establishes that CSBC assigned the Urban Ale mark to Urban Alley pursuant to a Deed of Assignment dated 21 December 2017. 286 Under s 110(2) of the TMA, the registration of an assignment is deemed to be effective from the day upon which the application to record the assignment was filed. In the present case, there is no evidence concerning the application to register the assignment of the Urban Ale mark from CSBC to Urban Alley. Urban Alley pleads and submitted that it became the registered owner of the Urban Ale mark on 20 February 2018, but there is no evidence in support of that claim and it is not admitted by La Sirène. Ultimately, the date of registration is immaterial. 287 I cannot see any basis on which to construe s 129 to establish a right of action against a successor in title to the person who made the threat to bring proceedings. The section empowers a person who has been threatened with trade mark infringement proceedings to make an application against the person making the threat. Such rights of action would continue to exist notwithstanding that the person making the threat had subsequently assigned the trade mark. In that regard, it can be noted that subsection (3) provides that an action under the section may be brought whether or not the defendant is the registered owner of the trade mark. However, there is nothing in the section to suggest that rights of action under the section extend to the assignee of the trade mark, and there is no reason to expect that an assignee is to be burdened by a statutory cause of action that had accrued against the assignor prior to the assignment. 288 I have taken account of the fact that, in its pleadings, La Sirène alleged that the threat made on 23 March 2017 was made by Urban Alley (not CSBC) and, in its defence, Urban Alley admitted that allegation. That admission has been shown by the evidence to be factually incorrect. It is also inconsistent with Urban Alley's further plea in its defence that it only became the registered owner of the Urban Ale mark on 20 February 2018. While that date was not proved by evidence or admitted, the evidence did show that it was not until 21 December 2017 that Urban Alley received an assignment of the mark. 289 In the circumstances, I am not prepared to make a declaration to the effect that Urban Alley threatened to bring proceedings against La Sirène for trade mark infringement and had no grounds for making the threat. 290 I note for completeness that I would also have refused declaratory relief on discretionary grounds. I regard as unsatisfactory the delay taken by La Sirène to make its application under s 129. The threat about which it complains was made on 23 March 2017. Negotiations between CSBC and La Sirène continued until 25 September 2017. However, La Sirène took no action under s 129 at that time, which suggests that La Sirène perceived that the threats made by CSBC had no effect on its business. It only made its claim under s 129 in the present proceeding by way of cross-claim, after Urban Alley had commenced its proceeding. In my view, an application under s 129 commenced in those circumstances is not consistent with the objectives of s 129. The section affords relief to a person who is aggrieved by the threat of infringement proceedings, and provides an avenue to seek redress in the face of such threats. The section, together with s 130, contemplates that such redress would ordinarily be sought before an infringement proceeding was commenced. Indeed, subsection (5) provides that an action under s 129 may not be brought if an infringement proceeding is commenced, albeit that is subject to the proviso that the infringement proceeding is commenced with due diligence. In the present case, La Sirène took no step under s 129 for 5 months, until Urban Alley commenced its proceeding. In my view, there is no utility in the Court granting declaratory relief under s 129 in such circumstances, given that the question of infringement will be dealt with in the principal proceeding. In my view, delay in making an application under s 129, rendering the relief inutile, provides an appropriate basis for the Court to refuse to grant declaratory relief under s 129(2)(a) in the exercise of its discretion: cf Bradken Resources Pty Ltd v Lynx Engineering Consultants Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 1257; 78 IPR 586 in which Emmett J considered (in the context of a pleading dispute) the nature and extent of the Court's discretion to grant relief under similar provisions of the Patents Act 1990 (Cth) (at [39]-[42]).

Urban Alley Brewery Pty Ltd v La Sirène Pty Ltd

At a glance

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Judgment (64 paragraphs)

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Legislation Cited (7)

Cases Cited (64)

Cited By (9)