2012 IPSANZ Annual Conference Seminar ... - List G Barristers

Parkdale v Puxu (1982) 149 CLR 191
Brennan J:
• The freedom to copy and sell any article on the market is a
corollary of the policy of the law against monopolies
• Similarity in get-up may evidence passing off, but
(statutory monopoly apart) all are free to copy the goods
themselves
• “It would be surprising if s 52 of the TPA were to alter
the “careful balance” of the Patents Act 1952 and the
Designs Act by a side-wind, and, after four centuries,
open the way to the creation of prescriptive monopolies
for the manufacture of goods. In my view, it does not
have that effect.”
• S 52 TPA applies by reference to this external legal order
• Consumer’s erroneous belief that first manufacturer has
monopoly does not render conduct of later manufacturer