Doric Products Pty Ltd v Lockwood Security Products Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1877

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA Doric Products Pty Ltd v Lockwood Security Products Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1877

PATENTS – claimed invention relating to locks – whether applicant's locks infringe claims– whether respondent's alleged invention is novel with respect to prior art information – whether prior art locks give rise to the problem the patent addressed – whether the patent includes an assumption which excludes alleged anticipating locks - obviousness – uninventive skilled worker - extent of common general knowledge – obviousness a question of fact - fair basis – whether claim travels beyond the specification – whether there is a real and reasonably clear disclosure of the matter claimed - sufficiency – utility – uncertainty

Patents Act 1990 (Cth) s 18(1)(b), 7(2), 7(3), 40(2), 40(3), 138(3)(f) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth) s 52

U and I Global Trading (Australia) Pty Ltd v Tasman-Warajay Pty Ltd (1995) 60 FCR 26 cited Sydney Cellulose Pty Ltd v Ceil Comfort Home Insulation Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1350 cited Populin v H B Nominees Pty Ltd (1982) 41 ALR 471 cited Kimberly-Clark Australia Pty Ltd v Arico Trading International Pty Ltd (2001) 177 ALR 460 applied Rehm Pty Ltd v Websters Security Systems (International) Pty Ltd (1988) 81 ALR 79 cited Bartlem Pty Ltd v CMMC Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1218 referred to Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company v Tyco Electronics Pty Ltd [2001] FCA 1359 referred to Flexible Steel Lacing Co v Beltreco Ltd (2000) 49 IPR 331 referred to Welcome Real-Time SA v Catuity Inc (2001) 51 IPR 327 referred to Atlantis Corporation Pty Ltd v Schindler (1997) 39 IPR 29 applied Welch Perrin & Co Pty Ltd v Worrel (1961) 106 CLR 588 applied Interlego AG v Toltoys Pty Ltd (1973) 130 CLR 461 applied Catnic Components Ltd v Hill & Smith Ltd [1982] RPC 183 referred to Radiation Ltd v Galliers and Klaerr Pty Ltd (1938) 60 CLR 36 applied R D Werner & Co Inc v Bailey Aluminium Products Pty Ltd (1989) 25 FCR 565 cited Meyers Taylor Pty Ltd v Vicarr Industries Ltd (1977) 137 CLR 228 cited Stanway Oyster Cylinders Pty Ltd v Marks (1996) 66 FCR 577 referred to British Liquid Air Company v British Oxygen Company Ltd [1909] 26 RPC 509 referred to Wellcome Foundation Ltd v V R Laboratories (Aust) Pty Ltd (1981) 148 CLR 262 cited Abbott Laboratories v Corbridge Group Pty Ltd (No 2) [2001] FCA 810 cited Elconnex Pty Ltd v Gerard Industries Pty Ltd (1992) 25 IPR 173 referred to Re Raychem Corp's Patents [1998] RPC 31 applied Winner v Ammar Holdings Pty Limited (1993) 41 FCR 205 distinguished Winner v Ammar Holdings Pty Ltd (1982) 24 IPR 137 distinguished Acme Bedstead Co Ltd v Newlands Bros Ltd (1937) 58 CLR 689 referred to Intalite International NV v Cellular Ceilings Ltd (No 2) [1987] RPC 537 applied Bristol-Myers Squibb Co v F H Faulding & Co Ltd (2000) 97 FCR 524 applied Leonardis v Sartas No 1 Pty Ltd (1996) 67 FCR 126 cited Firebelt Pty Ltd v Brambles Australia Ltd (2000) 51 IPR 531 referred to Olin Corporation v Super Cartridge Co Pty Ltd (1977) 180 CLR 236 applied ICI Chemicals & Polymers Ltd v Lubrizol Corp Inc (2000) 106 FCR 214 referred to Palmer v Dunlop Perdriau Rubber Co Ltd (1937) 59 CLR 30 referred to Biogen Inc v Medeva PLC (1996) 36 IPR 438 applied Coopers Animal Health Australia Ltd v Western Stock Distributors Pty Ltd (1987) 15 FCR 382 distinguished Sami S Svendsen Inc v Independent Products Canada Ltd (1968) 119 CLR 156 referred to Blanco White, Patents for Inventions 5th ed 1983 Bannon, Australian Patent Law (1984) CIPA Guide to the Patents Act 5th ed 2001 DORIC PRODUCTS PTY LTD v LOCKWOOD SECURITY PRODUCTS PTY LTD N 1089 OF 2000 HELY J 21 DECEMBER 2001 SYDNEY