Esco Corporation v PAC Mining Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 640

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Esco Corporation v PAC Mining Pty Ltd [2008] FCA 640

PATENTS – infringement – construction – wear assemblies attaching to excavator buckets – meaning of "opening extending therethrough" – meaning of "digging edge" – meaning of "rigid lock". PATENTS – invalidity – novelty – meaning of "shoulders" – whether prior patent had "shoulders". PATENTS – invalidity – obviousness – use of screw to eliminate looseness in earlier wear assemblies – person skilled in the art – common general knowledge – whether starting point of invention obvious – whether looseness in earlier wear assemblies a design flaw – evidence of obviousness given in hindsight – whether evidence should be accepted. PATENTS – invalidity – fair basis – real and reasonably clear disclosure of the invention – lock with adjustment assembly disclosed. WORDS AND PHRASES – "opening extending therethrough" – "digging edge" – "rigid lock" – "shoulders" Patents Act 1990 (Cth) ss 7(1), 7(2) Aktiebolaget Hässle v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2002) 194 ALR 485 cited Kimberly-Clark Australia Pty Ltd v Arico Trading International Pty Ltd (2001) 201 CLR 1 cited Lockwood Security Products Pty Limited v Doric Products Pty Limited (2004) 217 CLR 274 cited Lockwood Security Products Pty Limited v Doric Products Pty Limited (No. 2) (2007) 235 ALR 202 considered Meyers Taylor Pty Ltd v Vicarr Industries Ltd (1977) 137 CLR 228 considered Populin v HB Nominees Pty Ltd (1982) 41 ALR 471 cited Stena Rederi Aktiebolag v Austral Ship Sales Pty Ltd (2007) 73 IPR 257 cited Technograph Printed Circuits Ltd v Mills-Rockley (Electronics) Ltd [1972] RPC 346 considered ESCO CORPORATION AND BRADKEN RESOURCES PTY LTD (ABN 82 098 300 988) v PAC MINING PTY LTD (ABN 11 007 694 895) AND CENTRAL QUEENSLAND MINING SUPPLIES PTY LTD (ABN 11 010 402 990) NSD 1084 OF 2006