Clorox Australia Pty Ltd v International Consolidated Business Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 261

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Clorox Australia Pty Ltd v International Consolidated Business Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 261

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - patents - infringement - principles of construction of patent claims - principles of infringement - whether a feature of a claim is an essential integer - relevance of expert evidence to construction of claims - allegedly infringing product did not embody essential integer of the claims - no infringement demonstrated Patents Act 1990 (Cth) s 13, 122, Sch 1 Allsop Inc v Bintang Ltd (1989) 15 IPR 686 Beloit Technologies Inc v Valmat Paper Machinery Inc [1895] 24 RPC 705 followed Braas & Co GmbH v Humes Ltd (1993) 26 IPR 273 followed Breville Pty Ltd v The Warehouse Group (Australia) Pty Ltd [2005] FCA 1893 cited British United Shoe Machinery Co Ltd v A Fussell & Sons Ltd (1908) 25 RPC 631 followed Catnic Components Ltd v Hill & Smith Ltd [1982] RPC 183 applied CCOM Pty Ltd v Jiejing Pty Ltd (1994) 51 FCR 260 followed Commonwealth Industrial Gases Ltd v M W A Holdings Pty Ltd (1970) 44 ALJR 385 followed Cooper Industries Inc v Metal Manufactures Ltd (1994) 29 IPR 106 followed Décor Corporation Pty Ltd v Dart Industries Inc (1988) 13 IPR 385 applied EI Dupont de Nemours & Co v Imperial Chemical Industries plc (2002) 54 IPR 304 applied Elconnex Pty Ltd v Gerard Industries Pty Ltd (1991) 32 FCR 491 followed Electric & Musical Industries Ltd v Lissen Ltd (1939) 56 RPC 23 followed Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Pty Ltd v Avion Engineering Pty Ltd (1991) 103 ALR 239 followed Flexible Steel Lacing Co v Beltreco Ltd (2000) 49 IPR 331 applied Gambro Pty Ltd v Fresenius Medical Care South East Asia Pty Ltd (2004) 61 IPR 442 followed Glaverbel SA v British Coal Corp [1994] RPC 443 cited Improver Corporation v Remington Consumer Products Ltd [1990] FSR 181 considered Interlego AG v Toltoys Pty Ltd (1973) 130 CLR 461 followed Kimberly-Clark Australia Pty Limited v Arico Trading International Pty Limited (2001) 207 CLR 1 followed Kirin-Amgen Inc v Hoeschst Marion Roussel Ltd (2004) 64 IPR 444 followed Lantech Inc v First Green Park Pty Ltd (1995) 31 IPR 327 followed Leonardis v Sartas No 1 Pty Ltd (1996) 67 FCR 126 followed Martin v Scribal Pty Ltd (1954) 92 CLR 17 followed Martin Engineering Co v Trison Holdings Pty Ltd (1989) 14 IPR 330 Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co v Beiersdorf (Australia) Ltd (1980) 144 CLR 253 followed Nesbit Evans Group Australia Pty Ltd v Impro Ltd (1997) 39 IPR 56 followed Nicaro Holdings Pty Ltd v Martin Engineering Co (1989-1990) 16 IPR 545 followed Nobel's Explosives Co Ltd v Anderson (1894) 11 RPC 519 followed NV Philips Gloeilampenfabrieken v Mirabella International Pty Ltd (1993) 26 IPR 513 followed Patent Gesellschaft AG v Saudi Livestock Transport and Trading Co (1996) 33 IPR 426 followed Pinefair Pty Ltd v Bedford Industries Rehabilitation Association Inc (1998) 42 IPR 330 cited Populin v HB Nominees Pty Ltd (1982) 41 ALR 471 applied PhotoCure ASA v Queen's University at Kingston (2005) 64 IPR 314 approved Ransburg Co v Aerostyle Ltd [1968] RPC 287 referred to Rhone-Poulenc Agrochimie SA v UIM Chemical Services Pty Ltd (1986) 12 FCR 477 followed Rosedale Associated Manufacturers Ltd v Carlton Tyre Saving Co Ltd [1960] RPC 59 followed Sachtler GMBH & Co KG v RE Miller Pty Ltd (2005) 221 ALR 373 approved Sartas No 1 Pty Ltd v Koukourou & Partners Pty Ltd (1994) 30 IPR 479 followed Stanway Oyster Cylinders Pty Ltd v Marks (1996) 66 FCR 577 followed Welch Perrin & Co Pty Ltd v Worrel (1961) 106 CLR 588 followed Wheatley (Davina) v Drillsafe Ltd [2001] RPC 7 followed Clorox Australia Pty Ltd AND GARFUSE BV v International Consolidated Business Pty Ltd AND PHILIP CRAIG WITHERS VID 558 OF 2002 STONE J 22 MARCH 2006 SYDNEY (HEARD IN MELBOURNE)