E I Du Pont de Nemours and Company v ICI Chemicals & Polymers Limited [2005] FCA 892

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

E I Du Pont de Nemours and Company v ICI Chemicals & Polymers Limited [2005] FCA 892

PATENTS - appeals from decisions of Commissioner of Patents in relation to opposition to two Australian Patent applications – whether, when compared with prior art base as existed before priority date, both applications sufficiently novel – whether inventive step involved – whether complete specification fairly based

Patents Act 1990 (Cth) ss 3, 7, 18(1), 29, 40, 49, 59, 60 Aktiebolaget Hassle v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2002) 212 CLR 411 (cited) E I Du Pont de Nemours and Company v ICI Chemicals & Polymers Ltd (2003) 128 FCR 392 (cited) F Hoffman La-Roche AG v New England Biolabs Inc (2000) 99 FCR 56 (cited) Lockwood Security Products Pty Ltd v Doric Products Pty Ltd (2004) 212 ALR 1 (cited) Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co v Tyco Electronics Pty Ltd (2002) 56 IPR 248 (cited) New England Biolabs Inc v F Hoffmann-La Roche AG (see [2004] FCAFCA 213 (cited) E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY v ICI CHEMICALS & POLYMERS LIMITED & ANOR V407 OF 2002 ATOFINA SA v E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY N613 OF 2002 ICI CHEMICALS & POLYMERS LIMITED v E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY N614 OF 2002 E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY v ICI CHEMICALS & POLYMERS LIMITED N825 OF 2002 EMMETT J 1 JULY 2005 SYDNEY

IN THE FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NEW SOUTH WALES DISTRICT REGISTRY V407 OF 2002

BETWEEN: E I DU PONT DE NEMOURS AND COMPANY

APPELLANT

AND: ICI CHEMICALS & POLYMERS LIMITED

FIRST RESPONDENT

ATOFINA SA

SECOND RESPONDENT

JUDGE: EMMETT J

DATE OF ORDER: 1 JULY 2005

WHERE MADE: SYDNEY

THE COURT ORDERS THAT:

1. The appeal be upheld.

2. The decision of the Commissioner of Patents be set aside.

3. The opposition by the first and second respondents be refused.