Firebelt Pty Ltd v Brambles Australia Ltd & Anor [1998] FCA 1737

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – patents – combination patents – whether best known method of performance disclosed in specification – whether claims clear and succinct – whether claims fairly based on matter described in specification – determination of priority date – whether invention a 'manner of manufacture' – whether invention novel or involves an inventive step. Patents Act 1990 (Cth), s 5, s 7, s 18, s 38, s 39, s 40(2), s 40(3), s 43, s 102, s 104, s 114, reg 3.12, reg 3.14

Statute of Monopolies, s 6

Welch Perrin & Co Pty Ltd v Worrel & Anor (1960-61) 106 CLR 558 Ref'd Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken v Mirabella International Pty Ltd (1995) 183 CLR 655 Ref'd Advanced Building Systems Pty Ltd & Anor v Ramset Fasteners (Aust) Pty Ltd (1997-8) 40 IPR 243 Ref'd Commissioner of Patents v Microcell Ltd & Ors (1958-59) 102 CLR 232 Ref'd Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co & Anor v Beiersdorf (Australia) Limited (1979-80) 144 CLR 253 Ref'd

Firebelt Pty Limited v Brambles Australia Limited & Anor

QG 92 of 1995

Dowsett J

Brisbane

24 December 1998

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

GENERAL DIVISION

QUEENSLAND DISTRICT REGISTRY QG 92 of 1995

BETWEEN: FIREBELT PTY LIMITED

ACN 054 417 739

Applicant

AND: BRAMBLES AUSTRALIA LIMITED TRADING AS CLEANAWAY ACN 000 164 938

AND: First Respondent

COOLOOLA SHIRE COUNCIL

Second Respondent

BY ORIGINAL ACTION

BETWEEN: BRAMBLES AUSTRALIA LIMITED TRADING AS CLEANAWAY ACN 000 164 938

CROSS-CLAIMANT

AND: FIREBELT PTY LIMITED

ACN 054 417 739

CROSS-RESPONDENT

BY FURTHER CROSS ACTION BETWEEN: FIREBELT PTY LIMITED ACN 054 417 739 SECOND CROSS-CLAIMANT AND: BRAMBLES AUSTRALIA LIMITED TRADING AS CLEANAWAY ACN 000 164 938 SECOND CROSS-RESPONDENT AND: COOLOOLA SHIRE COUNCIL THIRD CROSS-RESPONDENT AND: STATE OF QUEENSLAND FOURTH CROSS-RESPONDENT JUDGE: DOWSETT J