JMVB Enterprises Pty Ltd v Camoflag Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 1474

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

JMVB Enterprises Pty Ltd v Camoflag Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 1474 PATENT – revocation – want of novelty – obviousness – patent for a campervan with a roof capable of being stowed or erected by spring means – prior publications – claim that patentee not entitled to invention. DESIGN – expungement – want of novelty or originality – entitlement.

Patents Act 1990 (Cth) ss 7, 13, 14(1), 15(1), 18(1)(b), 40(2), 40(3), 102, 105, 112, 114(1), 120(1), 121, 128, 129, 138(3) Designs Act 1906 (Cth) ss 4(1), 15(2)(b), 17(1), 19, 20(1), 30, 32, 32C, 32D Evidence Act 1975 (Cth) ss 76, 79, 80 Federal Court Rules 1976 (Cth) O 58 r 10(1)

A'Van Campers Pty Ltd v Camoflag Pty Ltd (2003) 57 IPR 494 cited Aktiebolaget Hassle v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2002) 212 CLR 411 followed Alsop's Patent [1907] 24 RPC 733 referred to Atlantis Corp Pty Ltd v Schindler (1997) 39 IPR 29 referred to Australian Steel Co (Operations) Pty Ltd v Steel Foundations Ltd (2003) 58 IPR 69 referred to Autocaps (Aust) Pty Ltd v Pro-Kit Pty Ltd (1999) 46 IPR 339 referred to Azuko Pty Ltd v Old Digger Pty Ltd (2001) 52 IPR 75 followed Benmax v Austin Motor Co Ltd [1953] 70 RPC 284 referred to Bristol-Myers Squibb Co v FH Faulding & Co Ltd (2000) 97 FCR 524 followed C Van der Lely NV v Bamfords Ltd [1963] 80 RPC 61 referred to Commonwealth Industrial Gases Ltd v MWA Holdings Pty Ltd (1970) 180 CLR 160 followed Conrol Pty Ltd v Meco McCallum Pty Ltd (1996) 34 IPR 517 referred to Conrol Pty Ltd v Meco McCallum Pty Ltd (1997) 80 FCR 264 followed D Sebel & Co Ltd v National Art Metal Co Pty Ltd (1965) 10 FLR 224 referred to Dart Industries Inc v Décor Corporation Pty Ltd (1989) 15 IPR 403 followed Doric Products Pty Ltd v Lockwood Security Products Pty Ltd (2001) 53 IPR 270 referred to Dunlop Rubber Co Ltd v Golf Ball Developments Ltd [1931] 48 RPC 268 referred to F Hoffman-La Roche & Co AG v Commissioner of Patents (1971) 123 CLR 529 followed Fina Research SA v Halliburton Energy Services Inc [2003] FCA 55 referred to Firebelt Pty Ltd v Brambles Australia Ltd (2002) 76 ALJR 816 followed Firmagroup Australia Pty Ltd v Byrne & Davidson Doors (Vic) Pty Ltd (1985) 82 FLR 311 referred to Flour Oxidizing Co Ltd v Carr & Co Ltd (1908) 25 RPC 428 referred to Gambro Pty Ltd v Fresenius Medical Care South East Asia Pty Ltd (2004) 61 IPR 442 referred to General Tire & Rubber Co v Firestone Tyre & Rubber Co Ltd [1972] 89 RPC 457 referred to George C Warner Laboratories Pty Ltd v Chemspray Pty Ltd (1967) 41 ALJR 75 followed Hill v Evans (1862) 31 LJ Ch 457 referred to Hsiung's Patent [1992] RPC 497 referred to Humpherson v Syer [1887] 4 RPC 407 referred to Illuka Midwest Ltd v Wimmera Industrial Minerals Pty Ltd (2001) 55 IPR 140 referred to J Rapee & Co Pty Ltd v Kas Cushions Pty Ltd (1989) 15 IPR 577 referred to Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 followed Kimberly-Clark Australia Pty Ltd v Arico Trading International Pty Ltd (2001) 207 CLR 1 followed L J Fisher & Co Ltd v Fabtile Industries Pty Ltd (1979) 1A IPR 565 referred to Le May v Welch (1884) 28 Ch D 24 referred to Leonardis v Sartas No. 1 Pty Ltd (1996) 67 FCR 126 followed Lido Manufacturing Co Pty Ltd v Meyers & Leslie Pty Ltd (1964) 5 FLR 443 referred to Lockwood Security Products Pty Ltd v Doric Products Pty Ltd (2004) 217 CLR 274 followed Macrae Knitting Mills Ltd v Lowes Ltd (1936) 55 CLR 725 followed Malleys Ltd v JW Tomlin Pty Ltd (1961) 180 CLR 120 followed Martin v Scribal Pty Ltd (1954) 92 CLR 17 followed Meyers Taylor Pty Ltd v Vicarr Industries Ltd (1977) 137 CLR 228 followed Microsoft Corp v Intertrust Technologies Corp (2003) 59 IPR 260 referred to Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co v Beiersdorf (Australia) Ltd (1980) 144 CLR 253 followed Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co v Tyco Electronics Pty Ltd (2002) 56 IPR 248 followed Mond Nickel Co Ltd's Application [1956] 73 RPC 189 referred to Nicaro Holdings Pty Ltd v Martin Engineering Co (1990) 16 IPR 545 followed Oakley Inc v Oslu Import and Export Pty Ltd (2000) 48 IPR 32 referred to Olin Corp v Super Cartridge Co Pty Ltd (1977) 180 CLR 236 followed Olin Mathieson Chemical Corp v Biorex Laboratories Ltd [1970] 87 RPC 157 referred to Pressler & Co Ltd v Gartside & Co (Manchester) Ltd & Widd Owen Ltd [1933] 50 RPC 240 referred to R v Commissioner of Patents; Ex parte Martin (1953) 89 CLR 381 followed RD Werner & Co Inc v Bailey Aluminium Products Pty Ltd (1989) 25 FCR 565 followed Re Applications by CSIRO and Gilbert (1995) 31 IPR 67 followed Re Beecham Group Ltd's (Amoxycillin) Application [1980] 97 RPC 261 referred to Re Upham and Commissioner of Patents (1998) 28 AAR 276 referred to Rehm Pty Ltd v Websters Security Systems (International) Pty Ltd (1988) 81 ALR 79 referred to Rescare Ltd v Anaesthetic Supplies Pty Ltd (unreported Gummow J, 4 March 1993) referred to Rosedale Associated Manufacturers Ltd v Airfix Products Ltd [1957] 74 RPC 239 referred to Row Weeder Pty Ltd v Nielsen (1997) 39 IPR 400 referred to Ryan v Lum (1989) 95 FLR 383 referred to Sartas No. 1 Pty Ltd v Koukourou & Partners Pty Ltd (1995) 30 IPR 479 referred to Smith Kline & French Laboratories Ltd v Evans Medical Ltd [1989] 1 FSR 561 referred to Speedy Gantry Hire Pty Ltd v Preston Erection Pty Ltd (1998) 40 IPR 543 referred to Stack v Brisbane City Council (1999) 47 IPR 525 referred to Stack v Davies Shephard Pty Ltd (2001) 108 FCR 422 followed Stanway Oyster Cylinders Pty Ltd v Marks (1996) 66 FCR 577 referred to Sunbeam Corp v Morphy-Richards (Aust) Pty Ltd (1961) 180 CLR 98 followed Sunstrum & Payette v Boland (2003) 59 IPR 146 referred to Sydney Cellulose Pty Ltd v Ceil Comfort Home Insulation Pty Ltd (2001) 53 IPR 359 referred to Townsend Controls Pty Ltd v Gilead (1989) 16 IPR 469 referred to U & I Global Trading (Australia) Pty Ltd v Tasman-Warajay Pty Ltd (1995) 60 FCR 26 referred to Valensi v British Radio Corp Ltd [1973] 90 RPC 337 referred to Wanem Pty Ltd v Tekiela (1990) 19 IPR 435 referred to Wellcome Foundation Ltd v VR Laboratories (Aust) Pty Ltd (1981) 148 CLR 262 followed Wimmera Industrial Minerals Pty Ltd v RGC Mineral Sands Ltd (No. 3) (1997) AIPC 91-366 referred to JMVB ENTERPRISES PTY LTD v CAMOFLAG PTY LTD V1190 of 2001 CRENNAN J 18 OCTOBER 2005 MELBOURNE