Unenforceable Penalty Clauses & Agreed Damages in Contracts
Table of Contents When negotiating a contract the parties commonly think about what should happen in the event that the other party breaches a term of the contract. They may also wish to stipulate what should happen upon the occurrence of a certain event (which may not technically constitute a “breach” of the contract). The […]
Damages for Republication of Defamatory Statement by Third Party
Milne v Ell [2017] NSWSC 555 Home This case serves as a reminder of how liability for defamatory statements can extend to the republication of the statement by third parties, even where the republication has not been expressly authorised (but impliedly authorised). In summary, an original publisher will be liable for the repetition of his […]
Protecting your brand & trade mark registration
Before choosing your brand: We have previously discussed important considerations when choosing the name of your business. Before you decide upon your brand (which may consist of a letter, word, name, number, logo, aspect of packaging, shape, colour, sound or scent) and launch it (including before you register your domain name) a trade mark availability […]
Minimum Employment Terms and Conditions in Australia
Employers who wish to sponsor skilled employees from overseas are, in summary, required under the subclass 457 scheme to provide terms and conditions which are at least equivalent to those which an Australian citizen or permanent resident would achieve performing the same work at the same location. This is an ongoing requirement not least because […]
Legal Considerations When Choosing A Business Name in Australia
When it comes to choosing the name of your business, there are various key legal factors that you should consider. Existing registered and unregistered rights may already exist in similar names. The mere registration of a business or company name with the Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) does not avoid any of the following […]
How to Manage an Employee’s Performance & Associated Disciplinary Action
1 ISSUE You have an employee who is under-performing in their work or behaviour and you wish to manage their performance and monitor it moving forwards. You may consider that a failure to improve in accordance with set guidelines should result in some form of disciplinary action[1]. In doing so it is important to consider […]
Online copyright infringement of movies and website blocking by CSPs: Roadshow Films Pty Ltd v Telstra Corporation Ltd [2016] FCA 1503 (15 December 2016)
The Federal Court of Australia has made the first reported orders under the new s.115A of the Copyright Act 1958 (Cth) by requiring numerous Australian carriage service providers to disable access[1], for up to 3 years[2], to various websites whose “primary purpose” is the infringement or facilitation of infringement of copyright. The Copyright Amendment (Online […]
Unfair Contract Term Protections for Small Businesses
BACKGROUND Following public consultation processes, new laws[1] came into force on 12 November 2016 which extended existing consumer protection laws against unfair contract terms to “small business contracts” (e.g. business to business contracts). Under these laws, small businesses can also have an “unfair” term in a “standard form contract” declared as void in specified circumstances. […]
Guide to Statutory Demands – What to Do When Served
Intro If a company owes one or more debts which are due and payable to a creditor and which remain outstanding, it is possible that the creditor may decide to serve a statutory demand on the debtor company. The statutory demand may require the debtor company to either pay the debt(s) in full or provide […]