Novartis AG v Bausch & Lomb (Australia) Pty Ltd [2004] FCA 835

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Novartis AG v Bausch & Lomb (Australia) Pty Ltd [2004] FCA 835

PATENTS – claim for infringement and cross claim for revocation – application for deletion and validating amendments of patent – application opposed at the final hearing as contrary to the public interest to the extent that the amendments are validating amendments in that they seek to cure a lack of fair basis – after the final hearing the parties settled their dispute and requested consent orders dismissing the claim and cross-claim and granting all of the amendments sought – consideration of circumstances in which the Court will exercise its discretion to grant or refuse to grant an application for amendment of a patent – application granted in respect of some amendments and refused in respect of others

PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – whether a non-party should be permitted to intervene on the amendment application on the ground that there is no longer a proper contradictor in respect of that application

Patents Act 1990 (Cth) ss 40, 102, 105 and 138 Federal Court Rules O 58 r 10 Datadot Technology Ltd v Alpha Microtech Pty Ltd (2003) 59 IPR 402 – cited Oil Basins Limited v The Commonwealth of Australia (1993) 178 CLR 643 – cited Arrow Pharmaceuticals Ltd v Merck and Co Inc [2004] FCA 138 – cited Eli Lilly and Co v Pfizer Research and Development Co NV/SA (2003) 59 IPR 234 – considered New England Biolabs Inc v Commissioner of Patents (2001) 110 FCR 357 – cited Wimmera Industrial Minerals Pty Ltd v RGC Mineral Sands Ltd (No 3) (1997) AIPC ¶91-366 (39,772) – considered RGC Mineral Sands Pty Ltd v Wimmera Industrial Minerals Pty Ltd (1998) 89 FCR 458 – cited Fina Research SA v Halliburton Energy Services Inc (2003) 127 FCR 561 – cited ICI Chemicals & Polymers Ltd v Lubrizol Corp (1999) AIPC ¶91-521 (40,012) – considered ICI Chemicals & Polymers Ltd v Lubrizol Corp (2000) 106 FCR 214 – applied C. Van der Lely N.V. v Bamfords Limited [1964] RPC 54 – considered Chiron Corporation v Organon Teknika Limited (No. 5) [1994] FSR 258 – cited Kirin-Amgen Inc's Patent [2002] RPC 43 – cited Smith Kline & French Laboratories Limited v Evans Medical Limited [1989] 1 FSR 561 – applied Rescare Limited v Anaesthetic Supplies Pty Ltd (unreported, Federal Court of Australia, Gummow J, 4 March 1993) – considered Gambro Pty Ltd v Fresenius Medical Care South East Asia Pty Ltd (1999) 48 IPR 625 – considered Hsiung's Patent [1992] RPC 497 – cited Neurizon Pty Ltd v Lth Consulting and Marketing Services (No 2) (2003) AIPC ¶91-882 (35,633) – cited Kimberly-Clark Australia Pty Limited v Airco Trading International Pty Ltd (2001) 207 CLR 1 – applied Société des Usines Chimiques Rhône-Poulenc v Commissioner of Patents (1958) 100 CLR 5 – applied F. Hoffman-La Roche & Co. Aktien-Gesellschaft v Commissioner of Patents (1971) 123 CLR 529 – cited Rehm Pty Ltd v Websters Security Systems (International) Pty Ltd (1988) 81 ALR 79 – cited Leonardis v Sartas No 1 Pty Ltd (1996) 67 FCR 126 – cited CCOM Pty Ltd v Jiejing Pty Ltd (1994) 51 FCR 260 – cited Lockwood Security Products Pty Ltd v Doric Products Pty Ltd (2003) 56 IPR 479 – cited Olin Corporation v Super Cartridge Co. Pty. Ltd. (1977) 180 CLR 236 – applied Atlantis Corporation Pty Ltd v Schindler (1997) 39 IPR 29 – cited Chevron Research Company's Patent [1970] RPC 580 – cited Bristol Myers Company v Manon Freres Limited [1973] RPC 836 – cited Matbro Limited v Michigan (Great Britain) Limited [1973] RPC 823 – cited Bentley Engineering Co. Ltd.'s Patent [1981] RPC 361 – cited Raleigh Cycle Co. Ld. v H. Miller & Co. Ld.. [1951] AC 278 – cited Minerals Separation Ltd v Potter's Sulphide Ore Treatment Ltd (1909) 8 CLR 779 – cited Mullard Radio Valve Co. Ltd. v British Belmont Radio Ltd. [1939] RPC 1 – cited Great Lakes Carbon Corporation's Patent [1971] RPC 117 – cited Texas Instruments Ltd v Hyundai Electronics UK Ltd (unreported, UK Patents Court, Pumfrey J, 30 July 1999) – cited Richardson-Vicks Inc.'s Patent [1995] RPC 568 – cited Minister of Agriculture's Patent [1990] RPC 61 – cited NOVARTIS AG, COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANISATION, AND CIBA VISION AUSTRALIA PTY LTD (ACN 057 946 540) v BAUSCH & LOMB (AUSTRALIA) PTY LTD (ACN 000 650 251) V 81 OF 2000 MERKEL J 24 AUGUST 2004 MELBOURNE