The Federal Court has ruled Greenpeace did not infringe trademark laws when it used AGL’s logo in its satirical advertising.
Energy giant AGL has been thwarted in its legal bid to stop Greenpeace using its logo. Yesterday Federal Court Justice Stephen Burley held the environmental advocacy group’s campaign — which used AGL’s logo and described the company as Australia’s “biggest climate polluter” — did not infringe trademark laws, and only infringed copyright laws over three social media posts, and some photos and placards.
It was a big loss for the energy giant whose request for damages was also denied.
Greenpeace senior campaigner Glenn Walker tells Crikey the judgment was both a PR disaster for the energy company and an important precedent that clarified how advocacy organisations could use satirical materials.
Read more about the outcome of the case…
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