NSW Caselaw
New South Wales Court of Appeal
CITATION: Fermiscan Pty Ltd, Fermiscan Australia Pty Ltd, Fiberscan Pty Ltd v Veronica Jean James [2009] NSWCA 355
HEARING DATE(S): 5 August 2009
JUDGMENT DATE: 11 November 2009
JUDGMENT OF: Allsop P at 1; Ipp JA at 156; Handley AJA at 169
DECISION: Appeal dismissed with costs.
CATCHWORDS: CONTRACTS – general contractual principles - construction and interpretation of contracts - assignment of rights in connection with patents – application for patent of further invention – whether failure to assign patent application breached the assignment agreement - CONTRACTS - general contractual principles - construction and interpretation of contracts – agreement to settle litigation– non-disparagement clause - whether breach of the settlement agreement in comments made about efficacy of first invention – legitimate expression of scientific views – no tendency to injure or damage the reputation of the invention - CONTRACTS – penalties –– characterisation of agreed sum owing on breach of agreement to settle litigation - acceleration of payments of deferred settlement upon breach - whether clause characterised as a penalty – objective intention of the parties - clause intended to operate as a deterrent against the breach of the contract by coercing compliance – penalty clause void and unenforceable
LEGISLATION CITED: Patents Act 1990 (Cth) Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth)
CATEGORY: Principal judgment
Acron Pacific Limited v Offshore Oil NL [1985] HCA 63; 157 CLR 514 AMEV Finance Ltd v Artes Studios Thoroughbreds Pty Ltd (1989) 15 NSWLR 564 AMEV-UDC Finance Limited v Austin [1986] HCA 63; 162 CLR 170 Ballantyne v Aktiebolaget Separator [1915] HCA 20; 19 CLR 620 Boucaut Bay Co Ltd (In Liquidation) v Commonwealth [1927] HCA 59; 40 CLR 98 British United Shoe Machinery Co Ltd v A Fussell & Sons Ltd (1908) 25 RPC 631 Campbell Discount Co Ltd v Bridge [1962] AC 600 Commissioners of Customs and Excise v Savoy Hotel Ltd [1966] 1 WLR 948 Commissioner of Public Works v Hills [1906] AC 368 Clydebank Engineering & Shipbuilding Company v Don Jose Ramos Yzquierdo Y Castaneda [1905] AC 6 Cullen v Welsbach Light Company of Australasia Ltd [1907] HCA 3; 4 CLR 990 Delaney v Staples [1992] 1 AC 687 Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Company Limited v New Garage and Motor Company Limited [1915] AC 79 Esanda Finance Corporation Ltd v Plessnig [1989] HCA 7; 166 CLR 131 Ex parte Celotex Corporation [1937] HCA 31; 57 CLR 19 Favelle Mort Limited v Murray [1976] HCA 13; 133 CLR 580 Glegg v Bromley [1912] 3 KB 474 Gum v Stevens [1923] HCA 48; 33 CLR 267 Hargans v Commissioner of Patents [1932] HCA 60; 48 CLR 609 CASES CITED: Hunt v Kallinicos [2009] NSWCA 5 Interstar Wholesale Finance Pty Ltd v Integral Home Loans Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCA 310; 257 ALR 292 Lord Elphinstone v Monkland Iron and Coal Co Limited (1886) 11 App Cas 332 Kauzal v Lee [1936] HCA 39; 58 CLR 670 Lockwood Security Products Pty Ltd v Doric Products Pty Ltd (No 2) [2007] HCA 21; 235 ALR 202; 81 ALJR 1070 Luong Dinh Luu v Sovereign Developments Pty Ltd [2006] NSWCA 40; [2006] NSW Conv R 56-146 McGlashan v Rabett [1909] HCA 85; 9 CLR 223 Minerals Separation Ltd v Potter's Sulphide Ore Treatment Ltd [1909] HCA 42; 8 CLR 779 Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company v Beiersdorf (Australia) Limited [1980] HCA 9; 144 CLR 253 N Guthridge Limited v Wilfley Ore Concentrator Syndicate Limited [1906] HCA 10; 3 CLR 583 O'Dea v Allstates Leasing System (WA) Pty Ltd [1983] HCA 3; 152 CLR 359 Olin Corporation v Super Cartridge Co Pty Ltd [1977] HCA 23; 180 CLR 236 R v Commissioner of Patents; Ex parte Martin [1953] HCA 67; 89 CLR 381 Re Ellenborough [1903] 1 Ch 697 Ringrow Pty Ltd v BP Australia Pty Ltd [2005] HCA 71; 224 CLR 656 Thompson v Hudson (1869) LR 4 HL1 Toohey v Gunther (1928) 41 CLR 181 Waterside Workers' Federation of Australia v Stewart [1919] HCA 63; 27 CLR 119 Wallingford v Mutual Society (1880) 5 App Cas 685 Welch Perrin Co Pty Ltd v Worrel [1961] HCA 91; 106 CLR 588
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