ACCC institutes against seller of Aboriginal art for misleading representations

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has instituted proceedings in the Federal Court in Adelaide against a wholesaler and retailer of Aboriginal art and the company's director.

The ACCC alleges that Australian Dreamtime Creations Pty Ltd sold to retail outlets in various States and from its website certain artworks that it claimed were painted by a person of Aboriginal descent and by an artist named 'Ubanoo Brown' when this was not so.

Further, the ACCC alleges that ADC represented that carved wooden artworks it sold were Australian-made when, in fact, they were made in Indonesia and imported by ADC.

The ACCC alleges that ADC has engaged in misleading or deceptive conduct and made false or misleading representations about the country of origin of goods in breach of the Trade Practices Act 1974.

The ACCC also alleges that company director Mr Tony Antoniou was knowingly concerned in the conduct.

The ACCC seeks various orders including declarations, injunctions and corrective notices, costs and an order that Mr Antoniou attend trade practices law compliance training.

The first directions hearing is scheduled for Monday, 6 July 2009 at 9.30 a.m. before Justice Mansfield.