Pike v Semi Plastics Ltd - [1994] 3 NZLR 607

Courts — Jurisdiction — Employment Court — Proceedings brought by former employee of defendant for infringement of registered design and breach of copyright — Ownership of copyright and design disputed by defendant counterclaiming for breach of plaintiff's obligations of good faith, fidelity and fiduciary duty and in deceit — Whether claims and counterclaims "founded on an employment contract" - Whether within exclusive jurisdiction of Employment Court to determine claims and counterclaims within Employment Contracts Act 1991, s 3.

Statutes — Interpretation — Employment Contracts Act 1991 - Proceedings brought by former employee of defendant for infringement of registered design and breach of copyright — Ownership of copyright and design disputed by defendant counterclaiming for breach of plaintiff's obligations of good faith, fidelity and fiduciary duty and in deceit — Meaning of expression "founded on an employment contract" - Whether claims within exclusive jurisdiction of Employment Court — Whether Employment Contracts Act 1991 should be given a broad or literal approach — Employment Contracts Act 1991, s 3.