| Unfair Terms in Standard Form Consumer Contracts - Void |
| From 1 July 2010, the new ‘Unfair Contracts’ provisions in the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) (“Act”) commence operation (“Provisions”)....view full story |
| |
| Revised Discussion Paper On The Indian Draft Direct Taxes Code |
| In August 2009 the Indian Government released for public comment a draft Direct Taxes Code (“Draft DTC”)...view full story |
| |
| Setting the Standard |
| On 1 January 2010, significant changes were made to the employment landscape in Australia as the Modern Awards came into operation as part of the Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) (the “Act”)....view full story |
| |
| Nokia reconnects with the Trade Practices Act |
| The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (“ACCC”) has accepted court enforceable undertakings from Nokia Australia Pty Ltd (“Nokia”) and Fone Care Pty Ltd (“Fone Care”), which operates Nokia Care Centres throughout Australia....view full story |
| |
| Lift supplier gets that sinking feeling |
| The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (“ACCC”) recently instituted proceedings in the Federal Court against Lift Shop Pty Ltd (“Lift Shop”) and its director, Mr Leslie Katz...view full story |
| |
| Duties ruling released in Victoria |
| The State Revenue Office of Victoria recently released Duties Revenue Ruling DA.050 (“Ruling”)....view full story |
| |
| Energy efficiency disclosure Bill proposed |
| The Federal Government has foreshadowed the introduction of the Commercial Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure Bill (“Proposed Bill”) in the second half of 2010....view full story |
| |
| Virgin refuses to take no for an answer |
| The Australian Communications and Media Authority (“ACMA”) has accepted court enforceable undertakings from Virgin Mobile (Australia) Pty Ltd (“Virgin”) in respect of alleged breaches by Virgin of the Spam Act 2003 (Cth) (the “Act”)....view full story |
| |
| No longer the Apple of my i |
| On 21 January 2010, the Australian Trade Marks Office (“ATMO”) handed down its decision in a long running trademark dispute between US technology giant Apple Inc (“Apple”) and Wholesale Central Pty Ltd (“Wholesale Central”), a small Australian company....view full story |
| |
| On a fast track to success? |
| On 25 September 2009, a new ‘Fast Track Directions’ Practice Note was issued by Chief Justice M E J Black of the Federal Court of Australia....view full story |
| |
| People Telecom’s Posing Poses Problems |
| Following an investigation by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (“ACCC”), People Telecom Pty Limited...view full story |
| |
| Advanced repair? Yeah, yeah! |
| The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (“ACCC”) has accepted court enforceable undertakings from Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Limited (“VHA”)...view full story |
| |
| A right Bausch stoush |
| In a significant development in trade mark law in Australia, the Federal Court in the case of Alcon Inc v Bausch & Lomb (Australia) Pty Ltd [2009] FCA 1299, has ruled that...view full story |
| |
| A New Victorian Costs Court |
| On 31 December 2009, a new specialist Costs Court commenced its operations within the Trial Division of the Victorian Supreme Court....view full story |
| |
| Inside Men |
| Recent investigations by the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”) have resulted in the imposition of substantial bans...view full story |
| |
| Elders Real Estate Wollongong breaches Spam Act |
| The Australian Communications and Media Authority (“ACMA”) has issued Danielou Pty Ltd (trading as Elders Real Estate Wollongong) (“Danielou”) with a formal warning for breaches of the Spam Act 2003 (Cth) (the “Act”).
...view full story |
| |
| Update: ACCC v Wilsons Parking |
| On 12 October 2009, RLR informed readers of Federal Court proceedings commenced by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (“ACCC”) against Wilsons Parking Australia 1992 Pty Ltd (“Wilsons Parking”).
...view full story |
| |
| On the inside |
| The recent charging of Mr Andrew Dalzell with insider trading serves as a timely reminder, in this, the season of giving, that greed is not always good....view full story |
| |
| Another Apple grapple tackle? |
| Following recent legal action taken by Apple against The Little App Factory over its 'iPodRip' software, Apple has set its sights on Macpro Computers....view full story |
| |
| The price of beauty |
| International Beauty Supplier (“IBS”) recently offered undertakings to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (“ACCC”), in response to the ACCC’s concerns that IBS engaged in resale price maintenance....view full story |
| |
| Personalised Chocolates 4U franchisor misled and deceived franchisees: Federal Court |
| The Federal Court has declared that Personalised Chocolates 4U Pty Ltd and its sole director, Troy Patching, misled franchisees and engaged in conduct in breach of the Franchising Code of Conduct....view full story |
| |
| A horse is a horse (of course, of course). Even the edible variety. |
| Chocolaterie Guylian N.V. (“Guylian”), a Belgian manufacturer of boxed chocolates, recently failed in its attempt to register, in Australia, its seahorse shaped praline chocolate as a 3D shape trade mark....view full story |
| |
| How to best protect a company slogan: Believe it, or not… |
| The recent decision of the Federal Court in State of Victoria v Pacific Technologies (Australia) Pty Ltd (No 2) [2009] FCA 737 confirmed that a business which seeks to protect its slogan ought to register a trade mark...view full story |
| |
| If you Snooze you lose |
| Bedding retailer Snooze has conceded that its advertising campaign in October 2009 was likely to be misleading and deceptive, in breach of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) ("TPA")....view full story |
| |
| Shopping centres given a new 'lease' of life |
| The ACCC recently received undertakings from Coles and Woolworths that they will no longer include restrictive covenants in their shopping centre leases that have the effect of excluding their competitors leasing space in the same centre....view full story |
| |
| NSW Stamp Duty Amendments |
| From 1 December 2009, significant changes willtake effect to the calculation of stamp duty on acquisitions of interests in companies and unit trusts which own land in New South Wales with a value of $2 million or more....view full story |
| |
| Landmark penalties imposed against SMS spammer |
| On 23 October 2009, the Federal Court handed down penalties against the five respondents found to have breached the Spam Act and the Trade Practices Act on 14 June 2009....view full story |
| |
| Wilson Parking Australia sued by the ACCC in the Federal Court |
| The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (“ACCC”) has commenced Federal Court proceedings against Wilsons Parking Australia 1992 Pty Ltd (“Wilsons Parking”) alleging breaches of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) (“Act”)....view full story |
| |
| JOOP! strives for more than punctuated success |
| On 7 September 2006, JOOP! GmBH (“JOOP”) filed an application with the Office of Harmonization for the Internal Market (“OHIM”), the European body responsible for the registration of trade marks across the European Union....view full story |
| |
| Will Jennifer Hawkins' cozi come off? |
| Despite her seemingly charmed life, former Miss Universe, Jennifer Hawkins, is not impervious to the occasional legal hurdle....view full story |
| |
| ACCC reaches agreement with supermarket titans |
| The ACCC has reached an agreement with the two dominant supermarket operators in Australia, Coles and Woolworths, that restrictive provisions will no longer be included in leases for Coles or Woolworths' supermarkets.
...view full story |
| |
| Fancy a $20m fine? The ACCC clamps down on air freight price fixing |
| On 18 August 2009, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (“ACCC”) initiated proceedings against Emirates in respect of alleged air freight price fixing.
...view full story |
| |
| Reforms to boost Foreign Investment in Australia |
| Today the Federal Treasurer, Wayne Swan, announced reforms to Australia's foreign investment screening framework...view full story |
| |
| Katy Perry runs hot and then cold |
| American pop singer Katy Perry (famous for tracks that include ‘Hot n Cold’ and ‘I kissed a girl’), recently objected to an application by Australian fashion designer, Katie Perry, to register the name ‘Katie Perry’ as a trade mark in Australia....view full story |
| |
| Real estate agents (and vendors) under the hammer |
| The Trade Practices Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Bill 2009 (Cth) (“Bill”) aims to reform the widespread practice of ‘underquoting’ in the real estate industry. The new laws will come into force on 1 January 2010.
...view full story |
| |
| The kookaburra has laughed first, but will it laugh last? |
| Larrakin Music Publishing Pty Ltd (“Larrakin”) has won the first round of a Federal Court battle against Sony BMG, EMI and the two writers of one of Australia’s unofficial national anthems – the 1980s smash hit ‘Down Under’....view full story |
| |
| Cartel Conduct Criminalised! |
| New legislation has recently been enacted which imposes criminal sanctions (including potential prison sentences), against those involved in cartel conduct.
...view full story |
| |
| Professional sportspeople: your management fees may now be tax deductible! |
| On 18 June 2009, the High Court of Australia ruled that management fees paid by two professional footballers were tax deductible under the Income Tax Assessment act 1997 (Cth)....view full story |
| |
| Unfair dismissal under the new Fair Work Act 2009 (Cth) |
| Under the existing Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth), applications for relief in respect of harsh, unjust or unreasonable termination of employment may only be made to the Australian Industrial Relations Commission (“AIRC”) provided that:
...view full story |
| |
| Mobile Premium Services: New Code of Conduct |
| Chances are that most people have seen or heard an advertisement for Mobile Premium Services, for example: “Text your name to 191 000 to find your soul mate” or “Call 191 111 to get the latest crazy cat ring tone”....view full story |
| |
| Wake up call for telemarketers |
| Last year, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (“ACCC”) instituted proceedings against Clarus Telecom Pty Ltd (“Clarus Telecom”) for alleged breaches of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) (the “Act”).
...view full story |
| |
| Industrial and commercial tenants in Queensland beware - possible land tax changes |
| Landlords are currently prohibited from recovering land tax from tenants under Queensland industrial and commercial leases: section 44A of the Land Tax Act 1915 (Qld). This position may change shortly....view full story |
| |
| RLR completes 100km challenge for charity |
| On 27 March 2009, Hamish Rotstein, Dean Lockwood and Chandra Reddy completed the Oxfam TRAILWALKER 100km team challenge....view full story |
| |
| New Foreign Direct Investment guidelines issued in India |
| The Indian Government recently issued three new foreign direct investment guidelines which have the potential to dramatically alter the foreign investment landscape in India...view full story |
| |
| Don't risk gambling with your sponsorship: you might lose a fortune |
| Professional Australian A-League soccer team, the Newcastle Jets, recently missed out on potential sponsorship revenue of around a quarter of a million dollars.
...view full story |
| |
| Business buyers beware: Victorian Government moves to close stamp duty loophole |
| The Duties (Amendment) Bill 2008 (Vic) (“the Bill”), currently before Parliament, goes far beyond its stated aim of closing the "long-term lease loophole".
...view full story |
| |
| Grape growers seek advice from Rotstein Lockwood Reddy after Victorian bushfires |
| One of the knock-on effects of the recent Victorian bushfires has been that wine makers are refusing to buy grapes from growers in the Yarra Valley because of alleged 'smoke taint'....view full story |
| |
| Indian packaging company turns to Rotstein Lockwood Reddy |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy has added another industry to its burgeoning client base in its Australia-India Corridor - this time, by setting up an Indian packaging company's Australian subsidiary and export arm.
...view full story |
| |
| 'Bundled' telecommunications offers cause concern |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy has seen an increase in the number of business clients seeking legal advice about what are known in the industry as 'bundled' telecommunications offers.
...view full story |
| |
| An easier way to .tel your customers! |
| Individuals and businesses can now have register a .tel domain name. Unlike traditional domain names (from which a website can be run) the .tel domain is intended to operate as a name-based ‘navigation system’....view full story |
| |
| 'Desktop' and 'Marketing' are now registered trade marks |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy recently succeeded in having the words 'Desktop' and 'Marketing' registered as trade marks in Australia in class 16....view full story |
| |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy completes another major property acquisition |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy recently acted for the successful purchaser of Epsom Village Shopping Centre in Epsom, Victoria.
...view full story |
| |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy hosts SAIL |
| In a further indication of the depth of Rotstein Lockwood Reddy’s India practice, the firm hosted a 26 member delegation of the Indian Institute of Management (Calcutta) – Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL)...view full story |
| |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy makes an impact in the IPL |
| In the latest demonstration of Rotstein Lockwood Reddy’s reputation in the Indian market the firm has facilitated specialist sports and entertainment legal advice in India for one of the IPL franchises....view full story |
| |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy and Rukshad Davar And Associates enter non-exclusive affiliation |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy and Rukshad Davar And Associates are pleased to announce that they have entered into a non-exclusive affiliation...view full story |
| |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy and MMB Legal enter into non-exclusive affiliation |
| As part of his most recent trip to India, Mr Chandra Reddy (Special Counsel:
Australia-India Corridor) formalized Rotstein Lockwood Reddy’s non-exclusive affiliation with MMB Legal...view full story |
| |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy spends 5 minutes with Mahesh Bhupathi |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy was privileged to spend 5 minutes with Mahesh Bhupathi at Wimbledon this year – between his matches and time on the practice court....view full story |
| |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy shares the red carpet with Bollywood’s finest |
| You never know where Rotstein Lockwood Reddy will pop up when it comes to its Australia-India Corridor. This time, it was at the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) awards in Bangkok – Bollywood’s premier awards event....view full story |
| |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy facilitates India-entry for Australian architects |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy has added another industry to its burgeoning client base in its Australia-India Corridor.
...view full story |
| |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy Assists More and More Telstra Licensed Shops |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy’s reputation as the ‘go to’ law firm for Telstra Licensed Shops across Australia continues to go from strength to strength....view full story |
| |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy forms alliance with U.S. based law firm |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy is proud to announce that it has entered into an alliance with U.S law firm, Meister Seelig Fein LLP....view full story |
| |
| Rotstein Lockwood Reddy goes mobile (and to India) with www.rlrlawyers.mobi |
| In yet another example by Rotstein Lockwood Reddy of innovative thinking and client service leadership, the dynamic corporate and commercial law firm has launched what it believes to be the first .mobi site by an Australian law firm....view full story |
| |
