Gambro Pty Limited v Fresenius Medical Care South-East Asia Pty Ltd [2000] FCA 1044

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Gambro Pty Limited v Fresenius Medical Care South East Asia Pty Ltd

[2000] FCA 1044

PATENTS – amendment of specification – principles relevant to amendment – public interest to encourage invention. Patents Act 1990 (Cwth), ss 40, 102, 105 Ethyel Corporation's Patent [1972] RPC 169 applied Wimmera Industrial Minerals Pty Ltd v RGC Mineral Sands Ltd (No 3) (1997) AIPC 91-366 discussed

Socieétyé des Usines Chimiques Rhoône-Poulenc v Commissioner of Patents (1958) 100 CLR 5 applied

F Hoffman-La Roche & Co AG v Commissioner of Patents (1971) 123 CLR 529 referred to

Decor Corporation Pty Ltd v Dart Industries Inc (1988) 13 IPR 385 referred to Leonardis v Sartas No 1 Pty Ltd (1996) 67 FCR 126 applied RGC Mineral Sands Pty Ltd v Wimmera Industrial Minerals Pty Ltd (1998) 89 FCR 458 discussed

GAMBRO PTY LIMITED & ANOR v FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE SOUTH EAST ASIA PTY LTD & ORS NG 474 OF 19972000 BURCHETT, HEEREY and LEHANE JJ 4 AUGUST 2000 SYDNEY

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY NG 474 of 19972000

BETWEEN: GAMBRO PTY LIMITED (ACN 001 288 491)

First Applicant

GAMBRO AB

Second Applicant

AND: FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE SOUTH EAST ASIA PTY LIMITED (ACN 067 557 877)

Respondent

FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE SOUTH EAST ASIA PTY LIMITED

(ACN 067 557 877)

Cross-Claimant

GAMBRO AB

First Cross-Respondent

GAMBRO PTY LIMITED (ACN 001 288 491)

Second Cross-Respondent

JUDGES: BURCHETT, HEEREY and LEHANE JJ

DATE OF ORDER: 4 AUGUST 2000

WHERE MADE: SYDNEY

THE COURT ORDERS THAT: 1. The application for leave to appeal beis dismissed. 2. The respondent Freseinius Medical Care South East Asia Pty Limited pay the costs of the applicants Gambro Pty Limited and Gambro AB to be taxed. Note: Settlement and entry of orders is dealt with in Order 36 of the Federal Court Rules.