E I Dupont de Nemours & Company v Imperial Chemical Industries PLC [2002] FCA 230

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

E I Dupont de Nemours & Company v Imperial Chemical Industries PLC [2002] FCA 230

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – patents – pre‑grant opposition to patent – "appeal" against decision of delegate of Commissioner of Patents that opposition to grant was unsuccessful – nature of proceeding before Court – extent to which expert evidence admissible INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – patents – "manner of manufacture" – whether claims lacked quality of inventiveness to be a manner of manufacture INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY –patents – novelty – definition of "prior art base" – appropriate date at which prior art should be taken for assessment of novelty INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – patents – priority date – whether claim is fairly based on matter disclosed in a priority document – whether "real and reasonably clear disclosure" of matters claimed in patent application INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – patents – obviousness – inventive step – boundaries of "common general knoweldge" INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – patents – whether complete specification failed to define the invention EVIDENCE – definition of "a fact in issue in the proceeding" WORDS & PHRASES – "manner of manufacture", "prior art base", "real and reasonably clear disclosure", "common general knowledge", "a fact in issue in the proceeding" Patents Act 1990 (Cth) ss 7, 18(1), 40, 43, 59, 60, 114(1), 158(2), 160, 217, Sch 1 Patents Amendment Act 2001 (Cth) Sch 1, Pt 1, s 13 Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) ss 4, 55(1), 56, 135, 140 Patents Act 1952 (Cth) Patents Regulations 1991 (Cth) regs 3.12, 3.14 ICI Chemicals & Polymers Ltd v The Lubrizol Corporation Inc (2000) 106 FCR 214 discussed F Hoffman-La Roche AG v New England Biolabs Inc (2000) 99 FCR 56 discussed Genetic Institute Inc v Kirin-Amgen Inc (1999) 92 FCR 106 cited Bristol-Myers Squibb Company v F H Faulding & Co Ltd (2000) 97 FCR 524 cited NV Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken v Mirabella International Pty Ltd (1995) 183 CLR 655 followed Welch Perrin & Co Pty Limited v Worrel (1961) 106 CLR 588 cited Meyers Taylor Pty Ltd v Vicarr Industries Ltd (1977) 137 CLR 228 cited R D Werner & Co Inc v Bailey Aluminium Products Pty Ltd (1989) 25 FCR 565 cited General Tire & Rubber Co v Firestone Tyre & Rubber Co Ltd [1972] RPC 457 cited Nicaro Holdings v Martin Engineering (1990) 91 ALR 513 considered MJA Scientifics International Pty Ltd v SC Johnson & Son Pty Ltd (1998) 43 IPR 287 discussed ICI Chemicals v Lubrizol Corporation (1999) 45 IPR 577 cited ICI Chemicals v Lubrizol Corporation (1999) 45 IPR 617 cited ICI Chemicals v Lubrizol Corporation [1999] AIPC 91‑521 cited ICI Chemicals v Lubrizol Corporation (1999) 47 IPR 110 cited Pepsi Seven-Up Bottlers Perth Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Taxation (1995) 62 FCR 289 cited Australian Gas Light Co v Valuer‑General (1940) 40 SR (NSW) 126 cited Collector of Customs v Agfa‑Gevaert (1996) 186 CLR 389 cited Genetic Institute Inc v Kirin-Amgen Inc (No 2) (1997) 149 ALR 247 cited Ore Concentration Co Ltd v Sulphide Corporation Ltd (1914) 31 RPC 206 discussed Leonardis v Sartas No 1 Pty Ltd (1996) 67 FCR 126 applied Flour Oxidising Co Ltd v Carr & Co Ltd (1908) 25 RPC 428 cited Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co v Beiersdorf (Aust) Ltd (1980) 144 CLR 253 applied Elconnex Pty Ltd v Gerard Industries Pty Ltd (1991) 32 FCR 491 cited Aktiebolaget Hässle v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2000) 51 IPR 375 applied Kimberly‑Clark Australia Pty Ltd v Arico Trading International Pty Ltd (2001) 177 ALR 460 applied CCOM Pty Ltd v Jiejing Pty Ltd (1994) 51 FCR 260 cited Coopers Animal Health Australia Ltd v Western Stock Distributors Pty Ltd (1987) 15 FCR 382 cited Rehm Pty Ltd v Websters Security Systems (International) Pty Ltd (1988) 81 ALR 79 cited