Energy giant objects to use of its logo on posters and online advertising that use phrases like ‘generating pollution for generations’
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Protesters against AGL’s natural gas import terminal in
Victoria. The company has launched legal proceedings to have its
logo removed from a Greenpeace climate campaign. Photograph: Melanie Burton/Reuters
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It comes after the environment group launched a report and campaign with posters and online advertising that feature AGL’s logo and phrases such as “generating pollution for generations” and “Still Australia’s biggest climate polluter”.
AGL has commenced legal proceedings in the federal court and is seeking to have its logos removed from the campaign, alleging copyright infringement.
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Victoria blocks AGL's gas terminal on environmental grounds. Read more
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The environment group said it would argue it is fair use of the logo because the campaign featured it for the purpose of satirical criticism “of the dissonance between AGL’s public relations statements and its lack of action on climate change”.
A directions hearing is set down for Tuesday.
AGL has rejected the suggestion it is seeking to shut down public debate.
“AGL reserves its rights to defend its brand under Australian law,” a spokesman said.
“We have no intention to stifle public debate. The legal application seeks to prevent unlawful use of our brand as part of a third party campaign and is not intended to silence the campaign itself.”
Katrina Bullock, the general counsel for Greenpeace Australia Pacific, said the case could be important in determining the extent to which charities and non-government organisations could run campaigns of the kind launched by Greenpeace “without fearing litigation”.
“Legal tactics like the ones AGL are using are the kind of tactic multibillion-dollar fossil fuel companies use … to try to tie up the resources of anyone who speaks out against them,” she said.
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AGL says it will link bosses’ bonuses to lowering emissions. Read more
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“AGL likes to slap a wind turbine on their ads to hide their dirty coal pollution, and now they’re trying to slap a lawsuit on us to keep us quiet,” he said.
“This is yet another attempt by the coal industry to stop grassroots organisations from exposing the damage that it is doing to the climate, to the environment and to human health.”
AGL is Australia’s largest corporate greenhouse gas emitter, reporting more than 40m tonnes of scope 1 emissions in 2019-20, more than double the next largest emitter.
Last year, AGL announced it would begin linking executive bonuses to lowering emissions from the start of the 2021-22 financial year.
Links
- AGL launches legal battle against Greenpeace over climate change campaign
- AGL sues Greenpeace for logo parody
- ‘Dirty and dangerous’: AGL tops list of coal-fired plant breaches
- Advice to government contradicts Coalition claim over Liddell coal plant closure
- AGL bets on electric vehicles subscription service to boost Australia's uptake
- AGL says it will link bosses’ bonuses to lowering emissions
- AGL sought Victorian rule change to clear way for controversial gas terminal
- Importing gas to replace domestic supply could push emissions up 20%, AGL says
- More of the Great Australian Bight opened to oil and gas
- Alinta announces $250m bid for AGL's Liddell coal power station
- Warning of power shortfall risk after closure of Liddell plant
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