Root Quality Pty Ltd v Root Control Technologies Pty Ltd [2000] FCA 980

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Root Quality Pty Ltd v Root Control Technologies Pty Ltd [2000] FCA 980

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – patent – construction of claims – effect of amendment – 'pith and marrow' – purposive construction – skilled addressee – infringement – want of novelty – obviousness – manner of new manufacture – fair basing TORTS – procuring interference with patentee's rights – intentional tort – personal liability of director for company's wrongdoing WORDS AND PHRASES – "strip", "for"

Patents Act 1990 (Cth) ss 7(2), 7(3), 18(1), 40(3), 116, 138(3)(b), 234(5), Schedule 1 Patents Act 1952 (Cth) ss 35(1)(a), 40(2), 100(1)(c), 100(1)(d), 100(1)(e), 100(1)(g) ADGA Systems International Ltd v Valcom Ltd (1999) 39 CCEL (2d) 163 cited American Cyanamid Company v Ethicon Ltd [1979] RPC 215 cited Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd v Australian Federation of Air Pilots [1991] 1 VR 637 referred to Ansett Transport Industries (Operations) Pty Ltd v Australian Federation of Air Pilots (No 2) [1991] 2 VR 636 cited Arnold v Bradbury (1871) 6 ChApp 706 referred to Australasian Performing Right Association Ltd v Valamo Pty Ltd (1990) 18 IPR 216 cited Autocaps (Aust) Pty Ltd v Pro-Kit Pty Ltd (1999) 46 IPR 339 cited Banfield v Johnson (1994) 7 NZCLC 260,496 cited Beecham Canada Ltd v Procter & Gamble Co (1982) 61 CPR (2d) 1 cited Bristol-Myers Squibb Company v FH Faulding & Co Ltd (2000) 46 IPR 553 followed British Ore Concentration Syndicate Ltd v Minerals Separation Ltd (1909) 26 RPC 124 referred to Catnic Components Ltd v Hill & Smith Ltd [1982] RPC 183 applied CBS Inc v Ames Records and Tapes Limited [1982] Ch 91 cited C Evans & Sons Ltd v Spritebrand Ltd [1985] 1 WLR 317 not followed Clark v Adie (1875) 10 ChApp 667 referred to Commissioner of Patents v Microcell Ltd (1959) 102 CLR 232 cited Conoco Specialty Products (Inc) v Merpro Montassa Ltd [1994] FSR 99 referred to Cropper v Smith (1884) 26 Ch D 700 followed C Van Der Lely NV v Bamfords Ltd [1963] RPC 61 referred to D C Thomson & Co Ltd v Deakin [1952] Ch 646 referred to Décor Corporation Pty Ltd v Dart Industries Inc (1988) 13 IPR 385 referred to Electric & Musical Industries Ltd v Lissen Ltd (1939) 56 RPC 23 cited Electricity Trust of South Australia v Zellweger Uster Pty Ltd (1986) 7 IPR 491 cited Emerald Construction Co Ltd v Lowthian [1966] 1 WLR 691 cited Falcon v Famous Players Film Co [1926] 2 KB 474 cited Fightvision Pty Ltd v Onisforou (1999) 47 NSWLR 473 applied Flour Oxidizing Company Ltd v Carr & Co Ltd (1908) 25 RPC 428 referred to Genentech Inc v The Wellcome Foundation Ltd (1989) 15 IPR 423 cited The General Tire & Rubber Company v The Firestone Tyre & Rubber Company Ltd [1972] RPC 457 discussed Golden v Anderson (1967) 64 Cal Rptr 404 Graham Hart (1971) Pty Ltd v S W Hart & Company Pty Ltd (1978) 141 CLR 305 referred to Greig v Insole [1978] 1 WLR 302 cited Hill v Evans (1862) 4 de G F & J 288; 45 ER 1195 referred to Hirsh Co v Minshall (1988) 89 NR 136, 22 CPR (3d) 268 cited Hirsh Co v Spacemaker Ltd (1987) 17 CPR (3d) 89 cited Hoover plc v George Hulme (Stockport) Ltd (1982) FSR 565 cited Imperial Oil Ltd v C & G Holdings Ltd 62 DLR (4th) 261 referred to Improver Corporation v Remington Consumer Products Ltd [1990] FSR 181 applied Innovative Agricultural Products Pty Ltd v Crawshaw (unreported, Federal Court of Australia, Lee J, 19 August 1996) cited International Standard Electric Corporation v Ooms 157 F2d 73 (1946) cited J K Smit & Sons Inc v McClintock [1940] SCR 279 cited J T Stratford & Son Ltd v Lindley [1965] AC 269 cited James v The Commonwealth (1939) 62 CLR 339 referred to Jasperson v Dominion Tobacco Company [1923] AC 709 referred to Kalamazoo (Aust) Pty Ltd v Compact Business Systems Pty Ltd (1985) 5 IPR 213 cited Katun Corp v Technofax Inc (1988) 22 CPR (3d) 269 cited King v Millpurrurru (1996) 136 ALR 327 referred to Kyowa's Application [1968] RPC 101 cited Leonardis v Sartas No 1 Pty Ltd (1996) 67 FCR 126 at 146 cited Lumley v Gye (1853) 2 El&Bl 216; 118 ER 749 discussed Martin and Biro Swan Ltd v H Millwood Ltd [1956] RPC 125 referred to Martin Engineering Co v Nicaro Holdings Pty Ltd (1991) 100 ALR 358 cited Mentmore Manufacturing Co Ltd v National Merchandising Manufacturing Co Inc (1978) 89 DLR (3d) 195 referred to Meyers Taylor Pty Ltd v Vicarr Industries Ltd (1977) 137 CLR 228 referred to Microsoft Corporation v Auschina Polaris Pty Ltd (1996) 71 FCR 231 cited Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company v Beiersdorf (Australia) Ltd (1980) 144 CLR 253 cited Moorhouse v University of New South Wales [1976] RPC 151 cited Nesbit Evans Group Australia Pty Ltd v Impro Ltd (1997) 39 IPR 56 referred to Non-Drip Measure Co Ltd v Stranger's Ltd (1943) 60 RPC 135 cited Northern Territory of Australia v Mengel (1995) 185 CLR 307 referred to NV Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken v Mirabella International Pty Ltd (1993) 44 FCR 239 referred to O'Brien v Dawson (1942) 66 CLR 18 discussed Olin Corporation v Super Cartridge Co Pty Ltd (1977) 180 CLR 236 referred to Osram Lamps v Pope Electric Lamp Co (1917) 34 RPC 369 cited Plimpton v Malcolmson (1876) 3 ChD 531 referred to Pope Appliance Corporation v Spanish River Pulp and Paper Mills Ltd (1929) 46 RPC 23 cited Populin v HB Nominees Pty Ltd and Binder (1982) 41 ALR 471 referred to Performing Right Society Ltd v Ciryl Theatrical Syndicate Ltd [1924] 1 KB 1 not followed Quinn v Leathem [1901] AC 495 referred to Radiation Ltd v Galliers & Klaerr Pty Ltd [1938] 60 CLR 36 referred to The Raleigh Cycle Co Ltd v H Miller & Co Ltd (1946) 63 RPC 113 cited The Raleigh Cycle Co Ltd v H Miller & Co Ltd (1948) 65RPC 141 referred to RCA Corporation v John Fairfax & Sons Ltd [1982] RPC 91 cited Ridgeway Maritime Inc v Beulah Wings Ltd and Dr Tunji Braithwaite ('The Leon') [1991] 2 Lloyd's Rep 611 cited Rodi and Wienenberger AG v Henry Showell Ltd [1969] RPC 367 referred to Rookes v Barnard [1964] AC 1129 referred to Rosedale Associated Manufacturers Ltd v Carlton Tyre Saving Co Ltd [1960] RPC 59 cited Rotocrop International Ltd v Genbourne Ltd [1982] FSR 241 cited Rutherford v Poole [1953] VLR 130 discussed Said v Butt [1920] 3 KB 497 followed Sami S Svendsen Inc v Independent Products Canada Ltd (1968) 119 CLR 156 referred to Sanders v Snell (1998) 196 CLR 329 cited Sharpe & Dohme Inc v Boots Pure Drug Co Ltd (1928) 45 RPC 153 applied Short v The City Bank of Sydney (1912) 15 CLR 148 applied Société Technique de Pulverisation Step v Emson Europe Ltd [1993] RPC 513 cited Tetra Molectric Ltd v Japan Imports Ltd [1976] RPC 547 referred to TNT Canada Inc v Kwik Transfer Inc (1987) 18 CPR (3d) 51 cited Trevor Ivory Ltd v Anderson [1992] 2 NZLR 517 referred to Tsaprazis v Goldcrest Properties Pty Ltd (2000) 18 ACLC 285 discussed Underwriters' Survey Bureau Ltd v Massie & Renwick Ltd [1938] Ex CR 103 affirmed [1940] SCR 218 cited Vidal Dyes Syndicate Ltd v Levinstein Ltd and Read Holliday & Sons Ltd (1912) 29 RPC 245 referred to Vigneux v Canadian Performing Right Society (1943) 4 Fox Pat C 183 cited Visa International Service Association v Visa Motel Corp (1984) 1 CPR (3d) 109 cited Wah Tat Bank Ltd v Chan Cheng Kum [1975] AC 507 not followed Walker v Alemite Corporation (1933) 49 CLR 643 distinguished The Wellcome Foundation Ltd v V R Laboratories (Aust) Pty Ltd (1981) 148 CLR 262 cited White Horse Distillers Ltd v Gregson Associates Ltd [1984] RPC 61 referred to Windsurfing International Inc v Novacttion Sports Inc (1987) 18 CPR (3d) 230 cited