Earl Eric Woolley/Instant Document Retrieval - s.87B undertaking

In April 1999 the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission instituted legal proceedings against Instant Document Retrieval Pty Ltd (IDR), its Director, Mr Earl Eric Woolley and a third party. In the proceedings, the ACCC alleged that IDR had made false or misleading representations with respect to the sale of 'Master Distributorships' for the 'Doctrieve' Electronic Document Management Software. The ACCC alleged that IDR had falsely represented the current clientele, the level of training to be provided, the size of set-up costs involved and the profitability of the distributorships. The ACCC alleged that IDR had breached sections 52 and 59 of the Trade Practices Act 1974 and that Mr Woolley had been knowingly concerned in the alleged conduct. While not admitting liability, the proceedings against IDR and Mr Woolley were settled after consent orders were provided by IDR and Mr Woolley including court injunctions and damages to the two small businesses involved, totalling over $60,000. Also as part of settlement, Mr Woolley provided a court enforceable undertaking pursuant to s87B of the Act requiring him to implement a Trade Practices Compliance Program in any company over which he has control in the future. It is this undertaking that is held on the ACCC's public register.