Austal Ships Pty Ltd v Stena Rederi Aktiebolag [2005] FCA 805

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Austal Ships Pty Ltd v Stena Rederi Aktiebolag [2005] FCA 805 PATENT – appeal from dismissal of opposition by Commissioner of Patents – burden of proof where extensive evidence – whether obviousness evidence assessed on balance of probabilities – multi-hull seagoing vessels – novelty – anticipation – essential and inessential integers – "substantial portion" in claim understood in context of whole specification – evidence on normal meaning of terms not relevant – precise mathematical parameters in claims – whether differences said to be not material to performance are included in mathematical criteria – whether made essential – not a case for purposive construction – mechanical equivalence of inessential not essential integers – whether claims permit a 2% variation said to be within operational functions and of no practical significance – hindsight in evidence of disclosure of prior publication – fact that witness aware of patent specified not of itself sufficient to disregard evidence – lack of inventive step and obviousness – assertion that prior art vessels essentially achieved solution although not within claimed parameters – hindsight – manner of manufacture – whether claims limited to exemplified embodiments – utility – embodiments within the claims that are not useful and would not be considered – proper construction of claims – whether all embodiments fulfil the promised advantages of the invention – fair basis – clarity WORDS AND PHRASES – narrow waisting – substantial proportion – continually decreases

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