Kiefel
CJ
Bell
J
Keane
J
Nettle
J
Gordon
J
21.
implications, particularly derogatory implications, that a user with that degree of
knowledge and comprehension would likely attribute to the results of a Google
search of the kinds in issue. As Kirby P (as his Honour then was) observed in
another context, in Wickstead v Browne71, appellate courts should be loath to
consider the application of the law to evidence in novel contexts without the
benefit of the evidence having been adduced and a trial concluded. Testimony
"gives colour and content to the application and development of legal
principle"72, and out of the detail of the evidence ultimately proved may arise an
insight which aids understanding whether and how principle should be
developed.
56
The Court of Appeal were further in error in treating the decision of this
Court in Google v ACCC as supportive of the conclusion that, although an image
of Mr Trkulja may have appeared in responses to Google searches which
included the words "criminal", "melbourne" and "underworld", that was simply
because those terms appeared in a webpage which contained that image, and for
that reason were not capable of conveying to the ordinary reasonable user of a
search engine the imputation that Mr Trkulja was a criminal or part of the
Melbourne criminal underworld73.
57
The question in Google v ACCC was whether Google had engaged in
misleading and deceptive conduct contrary to s 52 of the Trade Practices Act
1974 (Cth) by displaying misleading and deceptive "sponsored links". At first
instance, it was held that Google had not done so because it was simply a conduit
which passed on the sponsored links without any adoption or approval of their
contents74. On appeal, the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia held 75 that
and Handley JA agreeing at 161), which suggest that the circumstances of
publication, specifically the mode or manner of publication, are relevant to the
characteristics of the ordinary reasonable person.
71
(1992) 30 NSWLR 1 at 5-6.
72
(1992) 30 NSWLR 1 at 5 per Kirby P.
73
Google Inc v Trkulja (2016) 342 ALR 504 at 541-543 [175]-[178].
74
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Trading Post Australia Pty
Ltd (2011) 197 FCR 498 at 536-540 [176]-[185].
75
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v Google Inc (2012) 201 FCR
503 at 522 [95].
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