Grant v Commissioner of Patents [2006] FCAFC 120

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Grant v Commissioner of Patents [2006] FCAFC 120 PATENTS – patentable subject matter – business system or method – legal discoveries – manner of manufacture – claim for a method for structuring a financial transaction designed to protect an individual's assets – new use of known products with known properties for which their known properties make them suitable – no physical effect or physical phenomenon – mere intellectual information – claimed subject matter not a proper subject of letters patent

Patents Act 1990 (Cth) s 18(1A) Statute of Monopolies 1623 (Imp) Federal Proceedings (Costs) Act 1981 (Cth) Arrow Pharmaceuticals Ltd v Merck & Co Inc (2004) 213 ALR 182 cited AT&T Corp v Excel Communications, Inc 172 F 3d 1352; 50 USPQ 2d 1447 (Fed Cir 1999) considered Burroughs Corp (Perkins') Application [1974] RPC 147 considered CCOM Pty Ltd v Jiejing Pty Ltd (1994) 51 FCR 260 followed Commissioner of Patents v Lee (1913) 16 CLR 138 cited Commissioner of Patents v Microcell Ltd (1959) 102 CLR 232 cited Diamond v Diehr 450 US 175; 67 L Ed 2d 155 (1981) cited Grant v Commissioner of Patents (2006) 67 IPR 1 affirmed on different grounds In re Alappat 33 F 3d 1526; 31 USPQ 2d 1545 (Fed Cir 1994) cited International Business Machines Corporation's Application [1980] FSR 564 considered International Business Machines Corporation v Commissioner of Patents (1991) 33 FCR 218 considered Merck & Co Inc v Arrow Pharmaceuticals Ltd [2006] FCAFC 91 cited National Research Development Corporation v Commissioner of Patents (1959) 102 CLR 252 applied Neilson v Minister of Public Works (NSW) (1914) 18 CLR 423 cited N V Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken v Mirabella International Pty Ltd (1995) 183 CLR 655 cited Re Brown (1899) 5 ALR 81 cited Re Cooper's Application for a Patent (1901) 19 RPC 53 cited Re ESP's Application (1944) 62 RPC 87 cited Re Fishburn's Application (1938) 57 RPC 245 cited Re GEC's Application (1942) 60 RPC 1 cited Re Johnson's Application for a Patent (1901) 19 RPC 56 cited Re Lenard's Application (1954) 71 RPC 190 cited Re Peter Szabo and Associates Pty Ltd (2006) 66 IPR 370 considered Re W's Application (1914) 31 RPC 141 cited Rogers v Commissioner of Patents (1910) 10 CLR 701 cited Rolls Royce Ltd's Application [1963] RPC 251 cited State Street Bank & Trust Co v Signature Financial Group Inc 149 F 3d 1368; 47 USPQ 2d 1596 (Fed Cir 1998) considered Trustees of the Property of Cummins (a bankrupt) v Cummins (2006) 224 ALR 280 cited Welcome Real-Time SA v Catuity Inc (2001) 113 FCR 110 followed Advisory Council on Intellectual Property, Report on a Review of the Patenting of Business Systems, September 2003 J Lahore, "Computers and the Law: The Protection of Intellectual Property" (1978) 9 Federal Law Review 15 STEVEN JOHN GRANT v THE COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS NSD 1573 OF 2005 HEEREY, KIEFEL AND BENNETT JJ 18 JULY 2006 SYDNEY IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA