Novozymes A/S v Danisco A/S [2013] FCAFC 6

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Novozymes A/S v Danisco A/S [2013] FCAFC 6 Citation: Novozymes A/S v Danisco A/S [2013] FCAFC 6

Appeal from: Danisco A/S v Novozymes A/S (No 2) [2011] FCA 282

Parties: NOVOZYMES A/S and NOVOZYMES AUSTRALIA PTY LTD (ACN 001 420 677) v DANISCO A/S and DANISCO AUSTRALIA PTY LTD (ACN 096 139 392)

File number: NSD 605 of 2011

Judges: GREENWOOD, JESSUP AND YATES JJ

Date of judgment: 4 February 2013

Catchwords: INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – Patents – Validity – Requirement of clarity in terms of claims – Difficult issues in construction of claims – Issues resolved by adjudication – Whether claims "clear and succinct". INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – Patents – Validity – Requirement of novelty – Whether claims not novel when compared with prior art base – Whether prior art base disclosed claimed process in terms that would be so understood by skilled addressee – Whether prior art base anticipated claims by inevitable outcome – Significance of concessions made by patentee at trial – Whether necessary for skilled addressee, at priority date, to have been practically able to obtain materials necessary to work a process that would anticipate claims by inevitable outcome – Whether claim may be anticipated in part by inevitability of outcome and in part by understanding of skilled addressee. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – Patents – Validity – Whether invention a manner of manufacture – Requirement that it appear on the face of the specification that the invention is not new.

Legislation: Patents Act 1990 (Cth), ss 18(1), 40(3), 138(3)

Cases cited: Bristol-Myers Squibb Co v FH Faulding & Co Ltd (2000) 97 FCR 524 C Van der Lely NV v Bamfords Ltd [1963] RPC 61 DÉcor Corp Pty Ltd v Dart Industries Inc (1988) 13 IPR 385 Gillette Safety Razor Co v Anglo-American Trading Co Ltd (1913) 30 RPC 465 Glaverbel SA v British Coal Corporation (1994) RPC 443 H Lundbeck A/S v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2009) 177 FCR 151 Hill v Evans (1862) 1A IPR 1 Kirin Amgen Inc. and Others v Hoechst Marion Roussel Ltd (2004) 64 IPR 444 Martin v Scribal Pty Ltd (1954) 92 CLR 17 Merck & Co Inc v Arrow Pharmaceuticals Ltd (2006) 154 FCR 31 Meyers Taylor Pty Ltd v Vicarr Industries Ltd (1977) 137 CLR 228 Populin v HB Nominees Pty Ltd (1982) 59 FLR 37; 41 ALR 471 Rodi & Wienenberger AG v Henry Showell Ltd [1969] RPC 367 Sartas No 1 Pty Ltd v Koukourou & Partners Pty Ltd and Another (1994) 30 IPR 479 The General Tire and Rubber Co v The Firestone Tyre and Rubber Co Ltd [1972] RPC 457 Welch Perrin & Co Pty Ltd v Worrel (1961) 106 CLR 588