Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company v Tyco Electronics Pty Ltd [2002] FCAFC 315

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company v Tyco Electronics Pty Ltd [2002] FCAFC 315 PATENTS – claimed invention of connector for electrical wires – construction of connector involves use of tongues protruding from side walls of canal in which the cable itself lies – tongues said to combine features of strain relief for the wire and retention of that wire within channel – revocation on the grounds of lack of novelty – alleged infringement by appellant's electrical connector – whether the appellant's connector possessed all essential integers of the claim PATENTS – lack of inventive step – use of a "team" rather than an individual as the notional univentive skilled worker – relevant general knowledge at the priority date – the distinction between what is a logical step to the notional worker and what is obvious to that worker EVIDENCE – expert evidence as to obviousness – whether admissible – utility of – Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 76, 79, 80& 135 Patents Act 1952 (Cth) ss 40, 100(1). Patents Act 1990 (Cth) ss 6, 13(1), 18(1), 40, 138(3), 230, 233, 234. Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 76, 79, 80 & 135. HPM Industries Pty Ltd v Gerard Industries Ltd (1957) 98 CLR 424 cited. Sunbeam Corporation v Morphy-Richards (Aust.) Pty Ltd (1961) 180 CLR 98, followed. Meyers Taylor Pty Ltd v Vicarr Industries Ltd (1977) 137 CLR 228, followed. Graham Hart (1971) Pty Ltd v S W Hart & Co Pty Ltd (1978) 141 CLR 305, followed. Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co v Beiersdorf (Australia) Ltd (1980) 144 CLR 253, followed. Wellcome Foundation Ltd v VR Laboratories(Aust) Pty Ltd (1981) 148 CLR 262, cited. Firebelt Pty Ltd v Brambles Australia Limited [2002] HCA 21, followed. Allsop Inc v Bintang Ltd (1989) 15 IPR 686, followed. Elconnex Pty Ltd v Gerard Industries Pty Limited (1991) 32 FCR 491, followed. Winner v Anmar Holdings Pty Ltd (1993) 41 FCR 205, followed.Catnic Components Ltd v N.V. Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken v Mirabella International Pty Ltd (1993) 44 FCR 239, followed. The General Tire and Rubber Company v The Firestone Tyre and Rubber Company Ltd [1972] RPC 457, followed. Windsurfing International Inc v Petit (1983) 3 IPR 449, cited. Windsurfing International Inc v Tabru Marine (Great Britain) Ltd (1984) 3 IPR 498, cited. Catnic Components Ltd v Hill & Smith Limited (1981) FSR 60, followed.