AstraZeneca AB v Medis Pharma Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 549

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

AstraZeneca AB v Medis Pharma Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 549 Citation: AstraZeneca AB v Medis Pharma Pty Ltd [2014] FCA 549

Parties: ASTRAZENECA AB and ASTRAZENECA PTY LTD (ABN 54 009 682 311) v MEDIS PHARMA PTY LTD

File number: VID 231 of 2014

Judge: BESANKO J

Date of judgment: 28 May 2014

Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE – confidentiality regime between the parties set out in Court order – application to extend confidentiality regime to include "in-house" legal advisers of the applicants – whether confidentiality regime should be extended – factors relevant to whether persons should be included in confidentiality regime – where no person within existing confidentiality regime able to give instructions on behalf of the applicant – balance between risk of inadvertent or accidental disclosure and need for ability to seek appropriate advice and provide informed instructions. Held: Application allowed in part. Orders made to extend the confidentiality regime on the provision of undertakings as to loss and damage.

Cases cited: Alphapharm Pty Ltd v Lundbeck Australia Pty Ltd [2006] FCA 1358 Conor Medsystems, Inc v The University of British Columbia (No 4) [2007] FCA 324 Interpharma Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Patents [2008] FCA 1422 Luxottica Retail Australia Pty Ltd v Specsavers Pty Ltd (No 3) [2011] FCA 793 Mobil Oil Australia Ltd and Another v Guina Developments Pty Ltd and Another (1996) 33 IPR 82 United States Steel Corporation v United States 730 F2d 1465 (Fed Cir 1984) Warner-Lambert Co. v Glaxo Laboratories Limited [1975] RPC 354