202Groundless threats of legal proceedings in relation to copyright infringement

202  Groundless threats of legal proceedings in relation to copyright infringement

 (1) Where a person, by means of circulars, advertisements or otherwise, threatens a person with an action or proceeding in respect of an infringement of copyright, then, whether the person making the threats is or is not the owner of the copyright or an exclusive licensee, a person aggrieved may bring an action against the first‑mentioned person and may obtain a declaration to the effect that the threats are unjustifiable, and an injunction against the continuance of the threats, and may recover such damages (if any) as he or she has sustained, unless the first‑mentioned person satisfies the court that the acts in respect of which the action or proceeding was threatened constituted, or, if done, would constitute, an infringement of copyright.

 (2) The mere notification of the existence of a copyright does not constitute a threat of an action or proceeding within the meaning of this section.

 (3) Nothing in this section renders a barrister or solicitor of the High Court, or of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory, liable to an action under this section in respect of an act done by him or her in his or her professional capacity on behalf of a client.

 (4) The defendant in an action under this section may apply, by way of counterclaim, for relief to which he or she would be entitled in a separate action in respect of an infringement by the plaintiff of the copyright to which the threats relate and, in any such case, the provisions of this Act with respect to an action for infringement of a copyright are, mutatis mutandis, applicable in relation to the action.

 (5) A reference in this section to an action in respect of an infringement of copyright shall be read as including a reference to an action in respect of the conversion or detention of an infringing copy or of a device used or intended to be used for making infringing copies.