Expo-Net Danmark A/S v Buono-Net Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 710

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Expo-Net Danmark A/S v Buono-Net Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 710 Citation: Expo-Net Danmark A/S v Buono-Net Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) [2011] FCA 710

Parties: EXPO-NET DANMARK A/S v BUONO-NET AUSTRALIA PTY LTD, RAFFAELE BUONO and CLELIA BUONO

File number: NSD 428 of 2009

Judge: BENNETT J

Date of judgment: 23 June 2011

Catchwords: PATENTS – whether failure to describe best method known to applicant of performing invention pursuant to s 40(2)(a) of Patents Act 1990 (Cth) – criteria by which to establish failure to describe best method – whether this ground of invalidity should be considered in isolation from other asserted grounds of invalidity in a summary dismissal application – relevance of disclosure to the skilled reader – conflicting evidence – evidence that choice was routine PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – summary dismissal application pursuant to s 31A of Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth)

Legislation: Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 (Cth) s 31A Patents Act 1990 (Cth) s 40(2)(a)

Cases cited: Apotex Pty Ltd v Les Laboratoires Servier (No 4) (2010) 89 IPR 274 cited Colgate Palmolive Co v Cussons Pty Ltd & Anor (1993) 26 IPR 311 discussed Dey v Victorian Railways Commissioners (1949) 78 CLR 62 cited Enka BV v E I Dupont De Nemours & Co (1987) BP 13 (TPD) discussed Firebelt Pty Ltd v Brambles Australia Ltd (2000) 51 IPR 531 discussed General Steel Industries Inc v Commissioner for Railways (NSW) (1964) 112 CLR 125 cited Kowalski v MMAL Staff Superannuation Fund Pty Ltd (2009) 178 FCR 401 cited Pfizer Overseas Pharmaceuticals & Ors v Eli Lilly & Co (2005) 225 ALR 416 cited Spencer v Commonwealth of Australia (2010) 241 CLR 118 applied Theseus Exploration NL v Foyster (1972) 126 CLR 507 cited Three Rivers District Council v Bank of England (No 3) [2003] 2 AC 1 cited