Imperial Chemicals Industries Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Patents [2004] FCA 1658

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Imperial Chemicals Industries Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Patents [2004] FCA 1658 PATENTS – novelty – anticipation of specific chemical compound in an earlier broad claim – distinction between a general disclosure and a disclosure for novelty purposes – application by third party to appear amicus curiae in an appeal from delegate of Commissioner of Patents – refused – applicant's appeal allowed. Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 (Cth) Patents Act 1990 (Cth) – ss 7, 18(1)(b), 49, 50, 51 and 160(a), (d) and (e)

Australian Associated Motor Insurers Limited v NRMA Insurance Limited & Anor (2002) 124 FCR 518 referred to Beecham Group Limited's (Amoxycillin) Application [1980] 97 RPC 261 referred to Blair v Curran (1939) 62 CLR 464 followed Bristol‑Myers Squibb Co v FH Faulding & Co Ltd (2000) 97 FCR 524 followed British Thomson-Houston Co Ltd v Metropolitan‑Vickers Electrical Co Ld. (1928) 45 RPC 1 referred to Bropho v Tickner (1993) 40 FCR 165 followed Commissioner of Patents v Microcell Ltd & Ors (1958 - 1959) 102 CLR 232 referred to C. Van der Lely N.V. v Bamfords Ltd [1963] 80 RPC 61 referred to Dupont (Witsiepe) Application [1982] FSR 303 (H.L.) referred to Edison & Swan United Electric Light Co. v Holland (1889) 6 RPC 243 referred to EI Dupont de Nemours & Co v Imperial Chemical Industries plc (2002) 54 IPR 304referred to Flour Oxidizing Company Ld v Carr & Co. Ld & Ors (1908) 25 RPC 428 referred to General Tire & Rubber Co v Firestone Tyre & Rubber Co Ltd & Ors [1972] 89 RPC 457 referred to Genetics Institute Inc. v Kiran Amgen Inc. (1996) 67 FCR 527 referred to F Hoffmann-La Roche AG v Commissioner of Patents [2000] FCA 1845 referred to F Hoffmann-La Roche AG v New England Biolabs Inc. (2000) 99 FCR 56 referred to Haines v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1995) 43 NSWLR 404 referred to Harwood v Great Northern Railway Co (1865) H.L.C. 654 referred to Hill v Evans (1862) 4 De G. F & J 288 referred to HPM Pty Ltd (In Liq) v FEAR [2002] FCAFC 403 referred to ICI Chemicals and Polymers Ltd v Lubrizol Corporation Inc (1999) 45 IPR 577 referred to ICI Chemicals and Polymers Ltd v Lubrizol Corporation Inc (1999) 45 IPR 617 referred to Imperial Chemical Industries plc v EI Dupont de Nemours Co. [2002] FCAFC 264; (2002) AIPC 91-818 referred to ICI Chemicals and Polymers Ltd v Lubrizol Corporation Inc (2000) 106 FCR 214 followed Kabushiki Kaisha Sony Computer Entertainment & Ors v Stevens (2001) 116 FCR 490 considered Kaiser Aluminium & Chemical Corporation v Reynolds Metal Co (1969) 120 CLR 136 referred to King, Brown & Co. v Anglo‑American Brush Corp. (1892) 9 RPC 313 referred to La Macchia & Ors v Minister for Primary Industries & Anor (1992) 110 ALR 201 considered Levy v Victoria (1997) 189 CLR 579 followed Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 referred to Meyers Taylor Pty Ltd v Vicair Industries Ltd (1977) 137 CLR 228 applied Michaels v Commonwealth of Australia (2002) 124 FCR 473 referred to Miller v University of New South Wales (2003) 132 FCR 147 referred to Nicaro Holdings Pty Ltd v Martin Engineering Co & Anor (1990) 91 ALR 513 applied Port of Melbourne Authority v Anshun Pty Ltd (1981) 147 CLR 589 referred to Ramset Fasteners (Aust) Pty Ltd v Advanced Building Systems Pty Ltd (1999) 164 ALR 239 followed Rippon v Chilcotin Pty Limited (2001) 53 NSWLR 198 referred to Rogers v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 251 Sea Culture International Pty Ltd v Scoles & Ors (1991) 32 FCR 275 referred to Shell Refining and Marketing Co Ltd's Patent [1960] 77 IPR 35 referred to Spalla & Ors v St George Motor Finance Ltd (2004) 209 ALR 703 referred to State Bank of New South Wales v Stenhouse (1997) Aust. Torts Rep. 81-423 referred to Technip France SA's Patent [2004] RPC 919 considered University of Georgia Research Foundation Inc v Biochem Pharma Inc (2000) 51 IPR 222 referred to Walton v Gardiner (1992-1993) 177 CLR 378 referred to Werner (RD) & Co Inc v Bailey Aluminium Products Pty Ltd (1989) 25 FCR 565 followed Washex Machinery Corpo v. Roy Burton & Co. Pty Ltd (1974) ALJR 12 followed Wimmera Industrial Minerals Pty Ltd v R G C Mineral Sands Ltd (1997) 40 IPR 110 referred to IMPERIAL CHEMICALS INDUSTRIES PTY LTD V COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS V 833 of 2003 IMPERIAL CHEMICALS INDUSTRIES PTY LTD V COMMISSIONER OF PATENTS V 840 of 2003 CRENNAN J 16 DECEMBER 2004 MELBOURNE