NutraSweet Australia Pty Ltd v Ajinomoto Co., Inc. [2005] FCA 1524

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

NutraSweet Australia Pty Ltd v Ajinomoto Co., Inc. [2005] FCA 1524 PATENTS – revocation – invalidity – lack of inventive step – obviousness – obvious to try Patents Act 1990 (Cth) ss 7, 40 Aktiebolaget Hässle v Alphapharm Pty Limited (2002) 212 CLR 411 followed Application of Clinton, 527 F.2d 1226 (1976) cited B G Corporation v Walter Kidde, 79 F.2d 20, 22 (1935) cited Beecham Group Limited's (Amoxycillin) Application [1980] RPC 290 cited Cairnstores Ltd v Aktiebolaget Hässle [2002] EWHC 309 (Ch) [94] cited Catnic Components Limited v Hill & Smith Ltd [1982] RPC 183 applied Chiron Corporation v Murex Diagnostics Ltd [1996] RPC 535 cited Flour Oxidizing Company Ld v Carr & Co Ld [1908] RPC 428 applied Gambro Pty Ltd v Fresenius Medical Care South East Asia Pty Ltd (2004) 61 IPR 442 cited Glaxo Group Ltd's Patent [2004] RPC 843 cited Hills v Evans (1862) De G F & J 288 applied Hughes Tool Company v Ingersoll-Rand Company Limited [1977] FSR 406 applied Johns-Manville Corporation's Patent [1967] RPC 479 cited Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles [2001] 52 NSWLR 705 distinguished Merck & Co. Inc., In re, 800 F.2d 1091 (Fed Cir, 1986) applied Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company v Beiersdorf (Australia) Limited (1980) 144 CLR 253 cited O'Farrell, In re, 853 F.2d 894 (Fed Cir, 1988) applied Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation v Biorex Laboratories Limited [1970] RPC 157 applied Pownall v Conlon Management Pty Ltd as trustee for the Kalbarri Trust (unreported, Full Court of the Supreme Court of Western Australia, Malcolm CJ, Ipp and Anderson JJ, 15 March 1995) applied The General Tire & Rubber Company v The Firestone Tyre and Rubber Company Limited [1972] RPC 457 applied Windsurfing International Inc v Tabur Marine (Great Britain) Ltd [1985] RPC 59 cited Industrial Property Advisory Committee, Patents, Innovation and Competition in Australia (1984) Moy's Walker on Patents (4th ed, 2004) NUTRASWEET AUSTRALIA PTY LTD v AJINOMOTO CO., INC. VID 174 of 2002 FINKELSTEIN J 28 OCTOBER 2005 MELBOURNE