Fieldturf Tarkett Inc v Tigerturf International Limited [2014] FCA 647

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Fieldturf Tarkett Inc v Tigerturf International Limited [2014] FCA 647 Citation: Fieldturf Tarkett Inc v Tigerturf International Limited [2014] FCA 647

Appeal from: Fieldturf Tarkett Inc v Tigerturf International Limited [2011] APO 2; Fieldturf Tarkett Inc v TigerTurf International Limited [2011] APO 3

Parties: FIELDTURF TARKETT INC v TIGERTURF INTERNATIONAL LIMITED

File number(s): NSD 96 of 2011; NSD 227 of 2011

Judge(s): JAGOT J

Date of judgment: 20 June 2014

Catchwords: PATENTS – patent consisting of combination of integers – lack of novelty – lack of inventive step – lack of clarity – prior art – anticipation by prior document or prior publication – anticipation by prior use or prior act – enabling disclosure – whether documents or information publicly available – whether information common general knowledge – effect of hindsight on reliability of evidence as to anticipation by prior act

Legislation: Patents Act 1990 (Cth) ss 7(1), 7(2), 18(1)(b)(i), 18(1)(b)(ii), 40(3), 60(4)

Cases cited: Aktiebolaget HÄssle v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (1999) 44 IPR 593; [1999] FCA 628 Aktiebolaget HÄssle v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2002) 212 CLR 411; [2002] HCA 59 Alphapharm Pty Ltd v H Lundbeck A/S (2008) 76 IPR 618; [2008] FCA 559 Apotex Pty Ltd (formerly Genrx Pty Ltd) v Sanofi-Aventis (2008) 78 IPR 485; [2008] FCA 1194 Aspirating IP Ltd v Vision Systems Ltd (2010) 88 IPR 52; [2010] FCA 1061 Austal Ships Pty Ltd v Stena Rederi Aktiebolag (2005) 66 IPR 420; [2005] FCA 805 Bradken Resources Pty Ltd v Lynx Engineering Consultants Pty Ltd (2012) 210 FCR 21; [2012] FCA 944 Britax Childcare Pty Ltd v Infa-Secure Pty Ltd (2012) 290 ALR 47; [2012] FCA 467 British Acoustic Films Ltd v Nettlefold Productions (1936) 53 RPC 221 C Van der Lely NV v Bamfords Ltd (1962) 1A IPR 86 Commissioner of Patents v Microcell Ltd (1958) 102 CLR 232; [1959] HCA 71 Commonwealth Industrial Gases Ltd v MWA Holdings Pty Ltd (1970) 180 CLR 160; [1970] HCA 38 Dynamite Games Pty Ltd v Aruze Gaming Australia Pty Ltd (2013) 103 IPR 373; [2013] FCAFC 96 Elconnex Pty Ltd v Gerard Industries Pty Ltd (1992) 25 IPR 173; [1992] FCA 556 Eli Lilly & Company Ltd v Apotex Pty Ltd (2013) 100 IPR 451; [2013] FCA 214 F Hoffman-La Roche AG v New England Biolabs Inc (2000) 99 FCR 56; [2000] FCA 283 Fallshaw Holdings Pty Ltd v Flexello Castors & Wheels Pty Ltd (1993) 26 IPR 565; [1993] FCA 340 Fomento Industrial SA v Mentmore Manufacturing Co Ltd [1956] RPC 87 General Tire & Rubber Co v Firestone Tyre and Rubber Co [1972] RPC 457 Genetics Institute Inc v Kirin-Amgen Inc (1999) 92 FCR 106; [1999] FCA 742 H Lundbeck A/S v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2009) 177 FCR 151; [2009] FCAFC 70 Hill v Evans (1862) 1A IPR 1 Insta Image Pty Ltd v KD Kanopy Australasia Pty Ltd (2008) 78 IPR 20; [2008] FCAFC 139 Jupiters Ltd v Neurizon Pty Ltd (2005) 222 ALR 155; [2005] FCAFC 90 Lockwood Security Products Pty Ltd v Doric Products Pty Ltd (2004) 217 CLR 274; [2004] HCA 58 Lockwood Security Products Pty Ltd v Doric Products Pty Ltd (No 2) (2007) 235 CLR 173; [2007] HCA 21 Lux Traffic Controls Ltd v Pike Signals Ltd [1993] RPC 107 Merck & Co Inc v Arrow Pharmaceuticals Ltd (2006) 154 FCR 31; [2006] FCAFC 91 Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc v HN Norton & Co Ltd (1995) 33 IPR 1 Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co v Tyco Electronics Pty Ltd (2002) 56 IPR 248; [2002] FCAFC 315 Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Co v Beiersdorf (Australia) Ltd (1980) 144 CLR 253; [1980] HCA 9 New England Biolabs Inc v F Hoffman-La Roche AG (2004) 141 FCR 1; [2004] FCAFC 213 Nicaro Holdings Pty Ltd v Martin Engineering Co (1990) 91 ALR 513; 16 IPR 545; [1990] FCA 40 Old Digger Pty Ltd v Azuko Pty Ltd (2000) 51 IPR 43; [2000] FCA 676 PLG Research Ltd v Ardon International Ltd [1993] FSR 197 Ranbaxy Laboratories Ltd v AstraZeneca AB (2013) 101 IPR 11; [2013] FCA 368 Re Bristol-Myers Co's Application [1969] RPC 146 Stanway Oyster Cylinders Pty Ltd v Marks (1996) 66 FCR 577; [1996] FCA 1544 Sunbeam Corporation v Morphy-Richards (Aust) Pty Ltd (1961) 180 CLR 98; [1961] HCA 39 Wake Forest University Health Sciences v Smith & Nephew Pty Ltd (No 2) (2011) 92 IPR 496; [2011] FCA 1002 Welch Perrin & Co Pty Ltd v Worrel (1961) 106 CLR 588; [1961] HCA 91 Windsurfing International Inc v Petit (1983) 3 IPR 449