MMD Design and Consultancy Limited v Camco Engineering Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 827

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

MMD Design and Consultancy Limited v Camco Engineering Pty Ltd [2023] FCA 827 File number(s): VID 340 of 2020

Judgment of: ROFE J

Date of judgment: 21 July 2023

Catchwords: PATENTS – where invention claimed is a tooth construction for a mineral sizer – construction of patent – meaning of "front cover which is weldingly secured to and seated in face to face contact with the front face of the support body" – infringement – where respondents supplied tooth constructions for mineral sizers – whether repair defence applies – no infringement – standing to sue – additional damages not awarded PATENTS – validity – manner of manufacture – lack of novelty in light of two prior art documents – lack of inventive step in light of the common general knowledge alone – lack of inventive step in light of common general knowledge in combination with each of the two prior art documents – hindsight bias – clarity and fair basis – patent valid CONSUMER LAW – misleading and deceptive conduct – whether respondents contravened s 18 of the Australian Consumer Law by failing to warn customers that it had engaged in patent infringement – dismissed

Legislation: Competition and Consumer Act 2010 (Cth), Sch 2 (Australian Consumer Law) ss 18, 236, 237 Copyright Act 1968 (Cth) s 115(4) Patents Act 1990 (Cth) ss 7, 13(1), 40, 122(1A) Trade Marks Act 1995 (Cth) s 126(2)

Cases cited: Advanced Building Systems Pty Ltd v Ramset Fasteners (Aust) Pty Ltd [1995] FCA 236; AIPC 91-129 Airco Fasteners Pty Ltd v Illinois Tool Works Inc [2023] FCAFC 7 Aktiebolaget Hassle v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2002) 212 CLR 411 Apotex Pty Ltd v Sanofi-Aventis Australia Pty Ltd (No 2) (2012) 204 FCR 494 AstraZeneca AB v Apotex Pty Ltd (2014) 107 IPR 177 AstraZeneca AB v Apotex Pty Ltd (2015) 257 CLR 356 Bristol-Myers Squibb Company v Apotex Pty Ltd (No 5) (2013) 104 IPR 23 Britax Childcare Pty Ltd v Infa-Secure Pty Ltd (No 3) [2012] FCA 1019 Calidad Pty Ltd v Seiko Epson Corporation (2020) 272 CLR 351 Demagogue Pty Ltd v Ramensky (1992) 39 FCR 31 Dynamic Supplies Pty Ltd v Tonnex International Pty Ltd (No 3) (2014) 107 IPR 548 Erickson's Patent (1923) 40 RPC 477 ESCO Corporation v Ronneby Road Pty Ltd (2018) 131 IPR 1 Facton Ltd v Rifai Fashions Pty Ltd (2012) 95 IPR 95 Firebelt Pty Ltd v Brambles Australia Ltd (2002) 54 IPR 449 Futuretronics.com.au Pty Limited v Graphix Labels Pty Ltd (No 2) (2008) 76 IPR 763 General Tire & Rubber Co v Firestone Tyre & Rubber Co Ltd [1972] RPC 457 Generic Health Pty Ltd v Bayer Pharma Aktiengesellschaft (2014) 106 IPR 381 GlaxoSmithKline Australia Pty Ltd v Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (UK) Ltd (2016) 120 IPR 406 GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Investments (Ireland) (No 2) Limited v Generic Partners Pty Limited (2018) 264 FCR 474 Globaltech Corporation Pty Ltd v Australian Mud Company Pty Ltd (2019) 145 IPR 39 Halal Certification Authority Pty Ltd v Scadilone Pty Ltd (2014) 107 IPR 23 Hill v Evans (1862) 1A IPR 1 Hytera Communications Corporation Ltd v Motorola Solutions, Inc [2019] FCAFC 210 Jupiters Ltd v Neurizon Pty Ltd (2005) 65 IPR 86 Kimberley NZI Finance Ltd v Torero Pty Ltd [1989] FCA 400; ATPR (Digest) 46-054 Lockwood Security Products v Doric Products Pty Ltd (2004) 217 CLR 274 Meat and Livestock Australia Ltd v Cargill, Inc (2018) 129 IPR 278 Meyers Taylor Pty Ltd v Vicarr Industries Ltd (1977) 137 CLR 228 MJA Scientifics International Pty Ltd v SC Johnson & Son Pty Ltd (1998) 43 IPR 275 Mylan Health Pty Ltd v Sun Pharma ANZ Pty Ltd (2020) 153 IPR 199 Nicaro Holdings Pty Ltd v Martin Engineering Co (1990) 16 IPR 545 Oxworks Trading Pty Ltd v Gram Engineering Pty Ltd (2019) 154 IPR 215 Pfizer Overseas Pharmaceuticals v Eli Lilly and Company (2005) 68 IPR 1 Product Management Group Pty Ltd v Blue Gentian LLC (2015) 240 FCR 85 Ramset Fasteners (Aust) Pty Ltd v Advanced Building Systems Pty Ltd (1999) 44 IPR 481 Rehm Pty Ltd v Websters Security Systems (International) Pty Ltd (1988) 11 IPR 289 Root Quality Pty Ltd v Root Control Technologies Pty Ltd (2000) 49 IPR 225 Samsung Electronics Co Ltd v Apple Inc (2011) 217 FCR 238 Sandvik Intellectual Property AB v Quarry Mining & Construction Equipment Pty Ltd (2016) 118 IPR 421 Sanofi-Aventis Australia Pty Ltd v Apotex Pty Ltd (No 3) (2011) 196 FCR 1 Self Care IP Holdings Pty Ltd v Allergan Australia Pty Ltd (2023) 171 IPR 120 Smith & Nephew Pty Ltd v Wake Forest University Health Sciences (2009) 82 IPR 467 Welch Perrin & Co Pty Ltd v Worrel (1961) 106 CLR 588 Wilson v Simpson (1850) 50 US 109