Barrister describes book as a "cut and paste from previous cookbooks"

• by: Susannah Moran
• From:The Australian - June 19,2012

Best Of Bill, published by Murdoch Books, and described as "cut and paste" by Granger's lawyer. 

IT was a recipe for success: a combinination of chef Bill Granger and publisher Murdoch Books resulted in a series of best-selling cookbooks flying off the shelves like Bill's famous ricotta hotcakes off the griddle.

But the relationship has soured, with Granger suing Murdoch Books for misleading and deceptive conduct, infringement of copyright and infringement of moral rights.
Granger claims Murdoch Books published two "Bill's" compilation cookbooks without his permission, the Federal Court heard yesterday, infringing his copyright over the recipes. Murdoch Books says they were allowed to use the recipes under a licensing agreement, and that they had been paying Granger royalties from the books.
The parties appeared in the Federal Court before judge Anna Katzmann. The court heard that after Granger and Murdoch Books parted ways, Murdoch Books published a compilation book of recipes called Best of Bill: The Ultimate Collection of Bill Granger's Recipes.

Granger's barrister, Richard Lancaster SC, described the book as a "cut and paste from previous cookbooks".
"The new compilation was not done by the consent of Mr Granger and indeed, with his express objection to it," he said.
The second book was a collection of Granger's recipes for children's meals. Again, all recipes had previously been published, the court heard, and both compilation books were also published in electronic form.
"Having these books on the stands gives the consumer public the impression that Mr Granger has approved and selected these recipes," Mr Lancaster said. "That is contrary to the fact."
The barrister for Murdoch Books, Justine Beaumont, told the court Granger was being paid royalties for the sales of the cookbooks, which it believed it was entitled to publish.
"It will be my client's defence that the licensing agreement in fact gives my client the right to publish the books it has subsequently published," Ms Beaumont said.
The matter returns to court on July 4 when the judge will decide whether the parties should be sent to arbitration, the preference of Murdoch Books.
Neither Granger nor Murdoch Books commented yesterday. Murdoch Books is owned by Matt Handbury, a nephew of Rupert Murdoch. Mr Murdoch is the chairman and chief executive of News Corporation, the ultimate owner of The Australian. He has no relationship with Murdoch Books.