Tidy Tea Limited & Anor v Unilever Australia Limited [1995] FCA 589

CATCHWORDS

PATENTS ) INTERLOCUTORY INJUNCTIONS ) - application for interlocutory injunction for infringement of petty patent - principles - grounds of invalidity alleged - whether serious question to be tried - construction of claim - use of specification as context - use of wider context of practice of the industry - anticipation - false suggestion - fair basis - obviousness - effect of s. 7(2) and (3) of the Patents Act 1990 - long felt need and commercial success as evidence of inventiveness - balance of convenience - effect of respondent having chosen to market its product knowing of the applicants' claim to be entitled to a patent. Patents Act 1990, ss. 7, 40 and 138 CCOM Pty Ltd v Jiejing Pty Ltd (1994) 51 FCR 260 NV Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken v Mirabella International Pty Limited (1993) 44 FCR 239 Martin Engineering Co v Nicaro Holdings Pty Ltd (1991) AIPC 37,578 Martin Engineering Co v Trison Holdings Pty Ltd (1989) 14 IPR 330 Martin Engineering Co v Trison Holdings Pty Ltd (1988) 81 ALR 543 Beecham Group Limited v Bristol Laboratories Pty Limited (1968) 118 CLR 618 George Laurens (WA) Pty Ltd v Laurens & Co Australia Pty Ltd (1994) 16 ATPR 42,358 Prestige Group (Australia) Pty Ltd v Dart Industries Inc (1990) 95 ALR 533 Elconnex Pty Limited v Gerard Industries Pty Limited (1991) 32 FCR 491 Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company v Beiersdorf (Australia) Limited (1980) 144 CLR 253 Peter Pan Electrics Pty Ltd v Newton Grace Pty Ltd (1985) 8 FCR 557 Uprising Dragon Ltd v Benedict Trading & Shipping Pty Ltd (1987) 16 FCR 93 TIDY TEA LIMITED & ANOR v UNILEVER AUSTRALIA LIMITED NG 387 of 1995 Burchett J. Sydney 8 August 1995

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA) ) NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY) NG 387 of 1995 ) GENERAL DIVISION )

BETWEEN: TIDY TEA LIMITED AND LYONS TETLEY LIMITED Applicants