Gambro Pty Limited v Fresenius Medical Care Australia Pty Limited [2004] FCA 323

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Gambro Pty Limited v Fresenius Medical Care Australia Pty Limited [2004] FCA 323 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY – PATENTS – patent for a system for the preparation of fluid intended for medical procedures such as haemodialysis – respondent found to have infringed the patent in suit – cross claim – whether lack of novelty, lack of utility, lack of sufficiency of description, lack of fair basing and obviousness. Patents Act 1952 (Cth) Patents Act 1990 (Cth) Abbott Laboratories v Corbridge Group Pty Ltd [2000] FCA 1713, referred to Abbott Laboratories v Corbridge Group Pty Ltd [2002] FCAFC 314; [2002] AIPC 91-824, referred to Aktiebolaget Hässle v Alphapharm Pty Limited [2002] HCA 59; 194 ALR 485, referred to Allsop Inc v Bintang Ltd (1989) 15 IPR 686, cited Bartlem Pty Ltd v Cox Industries (Australia) Pty Ltd [2002] FCAFC 224; 55 IPR 449, cited Bristol-Myers Squibb Company v FH Faulding & Co Ltd (2000) 46 IPR 553, cited British United Shoe Machinery Company Ltd v A Fussell & Sons Ltd (1908) 25 RPC 631, referred to Chiron Corporation v Organon Teknika Limited [1994] FSR 202, cited Clark v Adie (1875) 10 Ch App 667, referred to Codex Corporation v Racal-Milgo Ltd [1983] RPC 369, cited Commonwealth Industrial Gases Limited v MWA Holdings Pty Limited (1970) 180 CLR 160, cited Decor Corporation Pty Ltd v Dart Industries Inc (1988) 13 IPR 385, referred to Eastern Counties and the London and Blackwall Railway Companies v Marriage (1860) 9 HLC 32; 11 ER 639, cited Flexible Steel Lacing Company v Beltreco Ltd [2000] FCA 890; 49 IPR 331, referred to General Clutch Corporation v Sbriggs Pty Ltd (1997) 38 IPR 359, discussed General Tire & Rubber Company v Firestone Tyre & Rubber Company Limited [1972] RPC 457, cited Graham Hart (1971) Proprietary Limited v SW Hart & Company Proprietary Limited (1976) 141 CLR 305, cited Hill v Evans (1862) 31 LJ Ch 457; 4De G F & J 288; 45 ER 1195, cited HPM Industries Proprietary Limited v Gerard Industries Ltd (1957) 98 CLR 424, cited ICI Chemicals & Polymers Ltd v Lubrizol Corporation Inc (2000) 49 IPR 513, cited Interlego AG v Toltoys Proprietary Limited (1973) 130 CLR 461, cited Kimberly–Clark Australia Pty Limited v Arico Trading International Pty Limited [2001] HCA 8; 207 CLR 1, cited Meyers Taylor Pty Ltd v Vicarr Industries Limited (1976) 137 CLR 228, discussed Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Company v Beiersdorf (Australia) Limited (1979) 144 CLR 253, discussed Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co v Tyco Electronics Pty Ltd [2002] FCAFC 315; (2002) 56 IPR 248, cited N Guthridge Limited v Wilfley Ore Concentrator Syndicate Limited (1906) 3 CLR 583, cited National Research Development Corporation v Commissioner of Patents (1959) 102 CLR 252, followed Nicaro Holdings Pty Ltd v Martin Engineering Co (1990) 91 ALR 513, cited Olin Corporation v Super Cartridge Co Pty Ltd (1976) 180 CLR 236, referred to Populin v HB Nominees Pty Ltd (1981) 59 FLR 37, referred to Radiation Limited v Galliers and Klaerr Proprietary Limited (1938) 60 CLR 36, referred to RD Werner & Co Inc v Bailey Aluminium Products Pty Ltd (1989) 25 FCR 565, referred to Rehm Pty Ltd v Websters Security Systems (International) Pty Ltd (1988) 81 ALR 79, referred to Rhone-Poulenc Agrochimie SA v UIM Chemical Services Pty Ltd (1986) 12 FCR 477, cited Sabre Corporation Pty Ltd v Russ Kalvin's Hair Care Company (1993) 46 FCR 428, discussed Sunbeam Corporation v Morphy-Richards (Australia) Pty Ltd (1961) 180 CLR 98, referred to C. Van der Lely NV v Bamfords Limited [1963] RPC 61, cited Walker v Alemite Corporation (1933) 49 CLR 643, referred to Welch Perrin & Co Pty Ltd v Worrel Company Proprietary Limited (1960) 106 CLR 588, referred to. Wellcome Foundation v VR Laboratories (Aust) Proprietary Limited (1980) 148 CLR 262, cited Woolworths Ltd v WB Davis and Son Ltd Inc (1942) 16 ALJ 57, cited A Selection of Broom's Legal Maxims (10th Ed 1939) pp 461-62 Blanco White Patents for Inventions (4th Ed) Blanco White Patents for Inventions (5th Ed) GAMBRO PTY LIMITED AND ANOR v FRESENIUS MEDICAL CARE AUSTRALIA PTY LIMITED NG 474 of 1997 ALLSOP J 25 MARCH 2004 SYDNEY