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Patent Registration

  1. Definitions
  2. The Requirements of Patentability
    1. Express Exclusion From Patentability - Non-patentable Subject Matter
    2. “Invention”
  3. Requirement 1: Manner of Manufacture (Patentable Subject Matter)
    1. Patentable Subject Matter: Computer Software
    2. Patentable Subject Matter: Business Methods
    3. Patentable Subject Matter: Biotechnology
    4. Patentable Subject Matter: Treating the Human Body
    5. Patentable Subject Matter: Genes
  4. Requirement 2: Novelty
    1. Priority Date
    2. Prior Art Base
    3. Disregarding Certain Types of Public Information
  5. Requirement 3: Inventive step
  6. Requirement 4: Usefulness
  7. Requirement 5: Prohibition on Secret Use
  8. Patent Applications: Description and Claim Requirements
    1. What does a Patent Contain?
    2. Claim Construction
  9. Patent Application Process
  10. International Patents
    1. Territorial Principle
    2. Patent Protection Overseas

In order to register a patent the invention must meet a strict criteria. This chapter will discuss the requirements of patentability. All sections within this chapter are referring to the _Patents Act 1990_ (Cth) unless otherwise noted.

Definitions

Term Definition
Priority date The date at which the novelty and inventiveness of the invention are assessed against the prior art base - usually the date the patent application is filed.1
Prior art base Publicly available information that describes the state of the art (state of existing known technology - latest and greatest)
Novel Has not been disclosed publicly in a document or used in the public in a way observable by members of the public, or two or more documents or acts which together disclose the invention.2
Inventive Not obvious to a person skilled in the relevant art (or field of technology)
Patent area Australia and the Australian continental shelf.3
Complete specification is made open to public inspection (‘OPI’) 18 months after filing.4

The Requirements of Patentability

In order to be patentable, an invention is required to meet the specifications found in s 18 of the Act. An invention is patentable if it is “manner of manufacture” within the meaning of s 6 of the Statute of Monopolies (i.e. is patentable subject matter, being either a product or process). The invention must be novel2 and must involve an inventive step (for standard patents) or an innovative step (for innovation patents). The inventiveness and novelty of the invention are compared against the prior art base as it existed at the priority date. The invention must be useful which means it must work or be possible. The final requirement is that the inventions must not have been secretly used before the priority date.

Before they are fully registered, Patents are examined by IP Australia to decide whether the inventions are eligible for a patent. IP Australia bases their decision on the above specifications.5

Express Exclusion From Patentability - Non-patentable Subject Matter

There are a few categories of subject matter that are considered not patentable. These categories include:

  1. Human beings and biological processes;6

  2. Plants and animals;7

  3. Products that would be contrary to law;8 and

  4. Mere mixtures.9

According to s 18 of the Act (2): Human beings, and the biological processes for their generation, are not patentable inventions. This means that generally, methods of in vitro fertilisation are excluded from patentability.

According to s 18 of the Act (3): For the purposes of an innovation patent, plants and animals, and the biological processes for the generation of plants and animals, are not patentable inventions.

There are also twos area where there is scope to exclude inventions from patentability found in the TRIPS Agreement. First TRIPS excludes inventions to “…protect human, animal or plant life, or health, or to avoid serious prejudice to the environment”.10 The second area allows for exclusions with respect to medical treatments, plants and animals.11

“Invention”

The opening words of s 18 (1): “an invention is a patentable invention for the purposes of a standard patent if the invention…” ‘Invention’ is defined in Schedule 1: ‘[I]nvention means any manner of new manufacture the subject of letters patent and grant of privilege within s 6 of the Statute of Monopolies, and includes an alleged invention.’

The word ‘new’ does not appear in s 18, only in the definition of invention. In s 18, an invention is considered patentable if it is a manner of manufacture, but according to the definitions in Schedule 1, the invention must be a manner of “new” manufacture. Despite the wording, this difference does not create an additional element of patentability. Instead, the wording of s 18 is considered to override any discrepancy and there is no need to incorporate the ‘new’ aspect of manner of manufacture.12.

Requirement 1: Manner of Manufacture (Patentable Subject Matter)

In order to be a patentable invention, the invention must be a manner of manufacture.13 Whilst the statute does not expressly outline what a manner of manufacture is, there are express provisions which state what the invention must not be, including contrary to law, harmful to trade or generally inconvenient.

The meaning of manner of manufacture has been debated by the Australian High Court. In the case of National Research Development Corporation v Commissioner of Patents14 it was concluded that:

the correct inquiry to determine manner of manufacture is ‘not into the meaning of a word so much as the breadth of the concept which the law has developed by its consideration of the text and purpose of the Statute of Monopolies.

Video overview by Natalie McIntosh on Manner of Manufacture.

The Patents Act 1990 (Cth) incorporates the guidelines for manner of manufacture within s 18. Pursuant to s18 of the Act an invention is to be a manner of manufacture within the meaning of s 6 of the Statute of Monopolies.

National Research Development Corporation v Commissioner of Patents (NRDC) (1959) 102 CLR 252

Facts: Appeal to High Court from a rejection by the Deputy Commissioner. The patent in question was a process involving a method of mixing known chemicals together and applying the mix to crops (alfalfa) in specific quantities to eliminate weeds, but not the crops. A patent over the method of producing a weedicide is not a patent for a product, it is a patent for the process of creating that product. The application had been rejected because the method was considered to be merely a new use of a known substance and did not result in the creation of a physical or tangible ‘vendible product’. Vendible product concept comes from cases before NRDC.

General principles outlined by the case:

  • The term, ‘manner of manufacture’, is a dynamic concept whose meaning has evolved over time since it first appeared in Statute of Monopolies. Has common law meaning, and is not interpreted literally.

  • Patentable subject matter is broad and flexible. The principles are to be applied flexibly as technological developments and inventions are excitingly unpredictable. The concept of patentability must accommodate inventions not yet envisaged.

  • Invention must be a vendible product - a product means every end produced; ‘vendible’ means an artificially produced state of affairs. This is very broad. A process is a vendible product where it offers an advantage to the useful arts in material form, as opposed to fine arts (which are protected by copyright).

  • Must be of economic significance - i.e. its value to the country must be in the field of an economic endeavour. It must have an industrial, commercial or trading character.

  • Cannot be a mere discovery, idea, scientific theory or law of nature.

The Courts Decision: The process of mixing the known chemicals together to produce new effects was a ‘manner of manufacture’ and valid subject matter for a patent. While the chemicals were not new, the effects of mixing them not known before in the context of alfalfa and the weeds that commonly hinder its growth. The invention was a new process that produced a vendible product (alfalfa output in the absence of weeds).

Patentable Subject Matter: Computer Software

In relation to computer software, copyright protects against the reproduction of a computer program in material form, but does not prevent independent creation. Patent protection for computer software provides protection against independent creation and for the means by which a result is obtained.

IBM v Commissioner of Patents (1991) 22 IPR 417

Facts: invention was a method of creating an improved (smoother) curve on a computer screen. This implemented an algorithm that could be manually calculated, the application of which resulted in a smoother curve.

Held: producing an improved curve image is commercially useful in the field of computer graphics – a smoother curve allows better graphics and more accurate portrayal of information. It is more than just a mathematical algorithm or pleasant image. It is the application of a mathematical algorithm to produce a commercial valuable and useful result. Therefore is the proper subject matter of a patent.

CCOM Pty Ltd v Jiejing Pty Ltd [1994] FCA 902

Facts: Chinese language word processor. Based on an algorithm. Involved using ordinary English keyboard but placing parts of common Chinese characters on keys.

Held: This is patentable subject matter. Computer software can be protected by patent.

Commissioner of Patents v Rokt [2020] FCAFC 86

Ordinary algorithms that just ‘computerize’ another task are not patentable. Video overview by Henry Bakker on Commissioner of Patents v Rokt

Patentable Subject Matter: Business Methods

The development of technology and innovative business practices lead to question of whether business methods could be considered patentable subject matter. This was a very controversial area of patent law. The current position appears to be that the invention must produce a physical effect in the sense of a concrete effect or phenomenon or manifestation or transformation.15

Video overview by Stephen Kuhn on Business Method Patents.

State Street Bank & Trust Co. v Signature Financial Group Inc (1998) (‘State Street’) - United States Case

Facts : The invention was a machine-implemented data processing system that used a mathematical algorithm to implement a financial investment structure. This allowed an investment fund to be monitored with its only output being information produced by the end of the day report. Essentially the program did what humans could do by hand but made this much faster and automated the process.

Held: The Court held that the invention was patentable subject matter as there is no business method exclusion from the scope of patentable subject-matter.

Welcome Real-Time v Catuity (2001) FCA 445 (Heerey J)

Facts: Patent for a method of operating a customer loyalty scheme by configuring a smart card.

Held: In terms of the business methods exception, this case found the State Street decision ‘persuasive’ ([129]), i.e. the case appears to agree there is no business method exception against patentability.

Grant v Commissioner of Patents (2006) 154 FCR 62

Facts: Involved a method of structuring a financial transaction with the aim of protecting an individual’s assets - a person creates a trust, the person makes a gift of money to the trust, the trust makes a loan of money to the person, the trust secures the loan by taking a charge over an asset held by the person. This thus gave priority in the person’s bankruptcy.

Held: the physicality requirement was introduced - the invention must involve a physical effect in the sense of a concrete effect or phenomenon or manifestation or transformation ([30], [32], [47]). The method here had no concrete, tangible, physical or observable effect - it was a mere scheme, an abstract idea, mere intellectual information (30], [32], [33], [47]). Therefore, it was not patentable subject matter.

The court observed that a method merely because a method is a business method does not prevent it from being patentable subject matter ([26]). However, things such as legal advice, schemes, arguments and the like are not manners of manufacture ([34]).

Patentable Subject Matter: Biotechnology

Biotechnology is another area which is controversial within the patent landscape. Biotechnology was considered to be patentable subject matter on the basis that the product subject to patentability is an invention derived from human ingenuity and is a non-naturally occurring manufacture. This issue of patentability was considered in the US case of Diamond v Chakrabarty.16

Diamond v Chakrabarty 447 US 303 (1980) - United States Case

Facts: The invention was a bacterium capable of breaking down crude oil, useful in treating oil spills. The process involved inserting non-native elements into the genome of a strain of naturally occurring bacteria and allowed it to be produced in commercial quantities. The naturally occurring bacteria did not occur in enough quantity to make it commercially viable.

Held: patentable subject matter is broad and includes ‘anything under the sun that is made by man’.

Burger CJ:

“Judged in this light, the respondent‘s micro-organism plainly qualifies as patentable subject matter. His claim is … to a non-naturally occurring manufacture or composition of matter - a product of human ingenuity.”

Patentable Subject Matter: Treating the Human Body

The way in which medical technology can be used to treat humans has long been a contentious issue. The treatment of the human body has been considered to be patentable subject matter. This issue was considered in the case of Apotex Pty Ltd v Sanofi-Aventis17 where the court was asked to considered whether methods of medical treatment were excluded from scope of patentable subject matter. The court held that they were not excluded.

Apotex Pty Ltd v Sanofi-Aventis [2013] HCA 50

The 4:1 majority of this case confirms that methods of medical treatment are patentable.

Facts: The patent was titled ‘pharmaceutical for the treatment of skin disorders’. This patent contained a single claim for a method of preventing or treating psoriasis by administering a pharmaceutical composition containing the active ingredient leflunomide. Leflunomide (and other therapeutic uses other than psoriasis) was the subject of an earlier Sanofi-Aventis patent, which expired in 2004. Apotex marketed a generic version of leflunomide for treatment of psoriatic arthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Sanofi then sued Apotex for infringement. Apotex counter-sued saying Sanofi’s patent was invalid.

Issue: Are methods of medical treatment for some reason excluded from scope of patentable subject matter?

Held: Patent at issue is valid – no exception for methods of medical treatment. For policy reasons, some earlier courts said should not be patentable so they are more available to people – however counter-argument for incentive principle. The court held that the patent had not infringed because s117 (contributory infringement by supply of products) could not be made out.

Patentable Subject Matter: Genes

One of the most contentious areas within patent law is the patentability of genes or the process of isolating genes. In the seminal case of D’Arcy v Myriad Genetics Inc18 the court was asked to consider whether the process of chemically isolating genes amounted to patentable subject matter. The court held that this process was not patentable subject matter.

D’Arcy v Myriad Genetics Inc

Facts: This case concerns a product, namely nucleic acid sequences (DNA or RNA) that have been isolated from the cell nucleus of a BRCA1 human gene. BRCA1 – breast and ovarian cancer disposing gene. Mutations indicate a predisposition to breast or ovarian cancer. The purpose of a cancer screening test is to compare a health genetic sequence to a patient’s sequence to make a diagnosis. This process costs approximately $3,000 in US, comparatively this process is free in AU). In order to diagnose the gene has to first be chemically isolated by separating it from the cellular environment in which it naturally exists.

Held: isolation of genes not patentable

Video overview by Nicholas Chinon D’Arcy v Myriad Genetics.

Requirement 2: Novelty

In order to be patentable the invention must be new. This requires the invention to have not been disclosed to the public before the priority date. The invention is compared to the prior art base, which consists of prior art information that is publicly available in a document or through doing an act, or in two or more related documents or acts anywhere in the world.19

Novelty is required by ss 18(1)(b)(i), 18(1A)(b)(i) and 7(1) of the Act.

Video overview by Georgia Ardouin on The test of Novelty in patent law.

Video overview by Jess Smith on Novelty.

The concepts of priority date and prior art base will be considered in turn.

Priority Date

The priority date is the date at which the novelty and inventiveness of the invention are assessed against the prior art base. The priority date is defined in section 43(2), and is generally the date that the patent specification is filed.

Filing a provisional application creates an earlier priority date, by filing a simplified version of the patent specification, with the complete application required to be filed within 12 months. If this does not occur, the provisional application will lapse and another application cannot be made. A provisional application may be desirable where a competitor is working on a similar invention and you want to get a patent first. A priory date will be the date that the provisional application is filed (so long as it discloses the invention in the claim in a manner that is clear enough and complete enough for the invention to be performed by a person skilled in the relevant art (section 43(2A)(b), reg. 3.13C), which is a requirement for a specification in a provisional application in any case (section 40(1), 29(3)).

A foreign application can be made either provisional or complete via The Paris Convention or the PCT. This will be discussed below in Patent Protection Overseas.

Prior Art Base

Historically, the prior art base was confined to documents and acts that were made available within Australia.20 The Patents Amendment Act 2001 (Cth) extended the breadth of the prior art base to include a worldwide comparison of all documents and acts available.

Video overview by Tracey Bryan on Prior Art Base.

One of the key ways to determine if a patent has been anticipated by content within the prior art base is to apply the reverse infringement test. The reverse infringement test was established in Meyers Taylor Pty Ltd v Vicarr Industries Ltd.21His Honour Aickin J stated at 235:

“The basic test for anticipation… is the same as that for infringement… whether the alleged anticipation would, if the patent were valid, constitute an infringement.”

The prior art must disclose all the essential features of the invention as claimed.22 It is not permissible to “mosaic” the prior art information to invalidate a patent.23 However, reading together different publications is permissible where it is plain there is incorporation by reference, for example because an invention may involve putting things that exist together in a new way that hasn’t been done before.24

An inventor who discloses his/her invention to the public before the priority date will anticipate his or her own invention. This may result in the invention lacking novelty. However, disclosure of an invention to a person who is subject to an obligation of confidence will not destroy novelty. There is also a grace period where an applicant can file a complete patent application within 12 months of the disclosure and still be granted a patent.25

Video overview by Jacob Corbett on Novelty in patents and the reverse infringement test.

Disregarding Certain Types of Public Information

Section 24 of the Act states that a person making a decision can disregard certain types of information made publicly available through any publication or use of an invention, provided the patent application is made within 12 months of such publication. This section applies to both the question of novelty an inventive/innovative step.

This is invoked where an inventor, patentee or predecessor in title self-publishes the patent. This covers circumstances where an inventor has inadvertently disclosed their invention prior to seeking patent protection. A complete patent application must be filed within 12 months of the disclosure.

This is enlivened, for example, when scientists working at Universities wanting to disseminate their work and then get a patent after. This won’t destroy novelty so long as the application is made within the 12 month period. If the application is made outside of this time frame the novelty may be considered destroyed.

This provision also applies where:

  • The patentee shows, uses or publishes at a recognised exhibition or publication at such an event. The specifics of this are found in the regulations;

  • Publication or reading of a paper written by inventor before a learned society;

  • Working the invention in public for purpose of reasonable trial where type of invention makes it reasonably necessary for the working to be in public. For example, testing a rail car has to be done in public, cannot do so in enclosed environment; and

  • Information made publicly available without the consent of patentee.

The specifics relating to this provision can be found in the Patents Regulations 1991.

Requirement 3: Inventive step

A patent must involve an inventive step. According to ss 18(1)(b)(ii) and 7(2) of the Act, this means that the invention would not have been obvious to a person skilled in the relevant art in the light of the common general knowledge as it existed before the priority date. The threshold for this test is relatively low - ‘if it would not have been obvious’.

“Obvious” has the ordinary English meaning of “very plain”.26 A “scintilla of inventiveness” (very small amount) is sufficient to support an inventive step.27 It is necessary to guard against the use of hindsight - an invention always seems more obvious when you know about it.

Video overview by Shiva Abassi on Inventive Step.

Video overview by Emily Sakzewski on Inventive Step.

A ‘person skilled in the relevant art’ is a hypothetical “non-inventive” person who possesses “ordinary skill” who works in the art or science of the invention.28 This can be a team of researchers.29

Video overview by Carrick Brough on A person skilled in the art. Video overview by Nathan Dowrick on A person skilled in the art.

Common general knowledge is the body of knowledge known or used by all those in the relevant trade, which forms the background knowledge and experience of those working in that field. Not simply information that could be found – must be information that is generally accepted and assimilated by the relevant technical community. It is the knowledge the person skilled in the relevant art has in the back of their mind when considering whether the invention is not obvious.30

Dura-Post (Aust) Pty Ltd v Delnorth Pty Ltd [2009] FCAFC 81

Facts: Concerned improved flexible roadside posts. Utilised sheet spring steel to overcome the problems of resilience and durability in existing flexible roadside posts. Stopped them from just cracking and breaking when hit. * Held: Innovation patents were designed for patenting improvements. The poles were patentable. The court held that the process to identify inventive step is to:

  • Compare invention claim by claim with each prior disclosure;
  • Identify variations between invention and each prior disclosure; and
  • Determine whether variations make a substantial contribution to the invention as claimed.

The question of whether an invention makes a substantial contribution as claimed has not been explained in greater detail. It is a factual enquiry that requires the perspective of a person skilled in the art having regard to relevant common general knowledge. It is decided on a case by case basis.

Video overview by Daniel G on Dura-Post (Aust) Pty Ltd v Delnorth Pty Ltd.

Requirement 4: Usefulness

An invention must be ‘useful’ to be eligible for a patent.31 Pursuant to s 18(1)(c) (which still apply post-Raising the Bar) an invention must operate as claimed or produce the claimed result if the steps are followed by a person skilled in the art. As a result of the Raising the Bar Amendments, ss 18(1)(c) and 18(1A)(c) were added which inserted a new definition of ‘useful’ in s 7A.

7A Meaning of useful:

  • (1) For the purposes of this Act, an invention is taken not to be useful unless a specific, substantial and credible use for the invention (so far as claimed) is disclosed in the complete specification.
  • (2) The disclosure in the complete specification must be sufficient for that specific, substantial and credible use to be appreciated by a person skilled in the relevant art.
  • (3) Subsection (1) does not otherwise affect the meaning of the word useful in this Act.
The Raising the Bar Amendments in 2012 changed the law

Prior to 2012 amendments, the term useful was not as clearly defined as it is today. When reading older cases, keep in mind that the tests for patentability are now slightly more stringent. Before 2012, an invention was required to operate as claimed or produce the claimed result if the steps are followed by a person skilled in the art. Patentability did not depend on whether the end product was commercially viable.32

The Raising the Bar Amendments bring Australian law mostly in line with that of the US. Note however that in the US there is no requirement for ‘specific, substantial and credible use’ to be considered at registration, as these grounds will not be examined before a patent is granted. These grounds may however be raised in post-grant challenges to a patent’s validity.

Requirement 5: Prohibition on Secret Use

Patents must not be secretly used. This prohibits a patentee from effectively extending the patent term by making commercial use of the invention before the priority date. Patent protection provides a twenty-year monopoly to patent holders, before the invention falls into the public domain. It thus forces a patentee to choose between patent or trade secret protection.

Secret use and public use are mutually exclusive - i.e. secret use will not affect novelty, and it is thus a separate area of invalidity.33

Video overview by Zoe Busch on Secret Use.

Pursuant to s 9 of the Act the following acts are not considered to be secret use of the invention:

  • Use for the purpose of reasonable trial or experiment only;

  • Use occurring solely in the course of a confidential disclosure of the invention;

  • Any other use for any purpose other than the purpose of trade or commerce; and

  • Any use of the invention by or on behalf of the Commonwealth, a State, or a Territory.

There is a new 12 months grace period in respect of secret use.34 The grace period provisions in s 24 apply to any secret use of the invention made within 12 months of filing a complete application (as opposed to a provisional application). In other words, secret use will be treated in the same way as public use as far as the grace period is concerned.

Azuko Pty Ltd v Old Digger Pty Ltd (2001) 52 IPR 75

Facts: Concerned a hammer used in mining for exploratory drilling. A friend of the inventor, who had tested the hammers inventor, ordered a number from the inventor. However, the inventor had not accepted the order. It also decided that the manufacture of 15 to 20 hammers was reasonable in order to conduct trials to determine their commercial viability.

Held: Has the patentee obtained a commercial benefit before the priority date? One instance is sufficient, no matter how close to the priority date it occurs. Rationale: Prevents a patentee gaining a longer monopoly than the statutory period. Production of 15 – 20 hammers in condition for commercial sale and order having been received for 5-6 cannot be considered a matter of trial and experiment, this indicates trial and experiment had been concluded earlier and commercial product had commenced since. Lack of evidence as to any trials or experiments on hammers, so inference drawn is that this wasn’t occurring.

Video overview by Sam D’Arro on Secret use in Azuko Pty Ltd v Old Differ.

Video overview by Diana Chiknaikin on Azuko Pty Ltd v Old Digger.

Patent Applications: Description and Claim Requirements

What does a Patent Contain?

A patent contains three key parts. These include:

  1. Abstract – briefly described invention and field or area it applies.

  2. Description (including the best known method of performing the invention).

  3. Claims (define the scope of the monopoly claimed).

Patent attorneys in Australia have exclusive monopoly on the right to draft a patent application; only inventor, applicant or an attorney can draft application. Lawyers are excluded from drawing patent applications: they don’t have the requisite qualifications; patent attorneys require science degrees and other attorney studies.

The specification in s 40 of the Patents Act 1990 (Cth) provides that:

A provisional specification must disclose the invention in a manner which is clear enough and complete enough for the invention to be performed by a person skilled in the relevant art.35

It also must be a complete specification which includes:36

  • Disclosure of the invention in a manner which is clear enough and complete enough for the invention to be performed by a person skilled in the relevant art (note pre-Raising the Bar, a specification had to ‘describe the invention fully’); and
  • Disclosure of the best method known to the applicant of performing the invention; and
  • End with a claim or claims.

Section 40(3) of the Act further outlines that the claim or claims must be clear and succinct and supported by matter disclosed in the specification - has to be some correlation between what is disclosed in the specification and what is claimed, if the claims try to gain monopoly in areas beyond the disclosure, will fail – however, if one claim is invalid it is not fatal to all, each is considered on its merits (note pre-Raising the Bar, claim has to be ‘fairly based on the matter described’ in the specification). Aim of this requirement is to ensure the claim is not broader than the contribution to the art described in the specification.

Lastly, s 40(4) notes that the claim or claims must relate to one invention only.

Claim Construction

Claims are used to define the limitations of the patent monopoly. The patent specification is intended to be given a purposive construction as opposed to a pure literal construction.

Principles in constructing claims:

  • Claims define the invention subject of the patent.
  • Must be construed according to their terms, on ordinary principles of construction of written documents.
  • It is not legitimate to confine the scope of claims by reference to limitations found in the body of the specification but which are not expressly or by proper inference reproduced in the claim themselves.
  • Don’t expand or narrow the boundaries of monopoly as fixed by the words of a claim by adding to those words, glosses or interpretations draw from other parts of the specification.
  • Construction – read specification as a whole.
  • In some cases, the meaning of words use may be qualified or defined by what is said in the body of the specification.
  • If an expression used in a claim is not clear or is ambiguous it is permissible to resort to the body of the specification to define or clarify words used in the claim.
  • A patent specification should be given a purposive construction rather than a purely literal one.
  • If it is possible to ascertain what the invention is from a fair reading of the specification as a whole it will be invalid.
  • But the specification must be construed in light of the common general knowledge in the art as it existed before the priority date.37

Patent Application Process

The patent application process is complicated and involves many steps which are drawn out over a period of time.

  1. Optional - provisional application filed:

    • The filing of a provisional patent application creates a priority date;

    • If a provisional application is filed a complete application within 12 months of filing provisional application.38

  2. Complete application filed:

    • The filing date becomes the date of the patent;39

    • Once the completed application has been filed time starts running;40

    • At this point the patent becomes open to public inspection (‘OPI’) 18 months after the priority date.41

  3. Examination

    • Application must request an examination within 5 years of lodging a complete application;42

    • Applicant has 21 months to address examiners objections;

    • Re-examination can occur at the Registrars discretion.43

  4. Acceptance and publication

    • Can appeal to the Federal court if rejected;44

    • Once accepted, becomes open to public inspection;45

    • The application has the same rights he or she would have if a patent had been granted on the day the specification becomes open to public inspection.46

  5. Opposition

    • The validity of a patent is not guaranteed;47

    • Opposition to the grant of a patent can occur on the grounds set out in s 59.

  6. Patent granted

    • Infringement proceedings can be brought;48

    • Defendant can bring a counter-claim for revocation of the patent.49

For more information see IP Australia’s Patent Application Guide

International Patents

Australian patents only provide protection to the invention within Australia. The following sections consider patent protection outside of Australia.

Territorial Principle

A patent for an invention gives a monopoly within the territory of the country which grants it. Outside that territory, it has no force or effect. A patentee can apply to have a patent outside the territory.

Norbert Steinhardt and Son Ltd v Meth (1961) 105 CLR 440

In the case of Norbert Steinhardt and Son Ltd v Meth Fullagar J stated:50

The English Patents Act relates exclusively to English patents, and the infringements which it makes unlawful are infringements of English patents only. In the same way, the Australian Patents Act relates exclusively to Australian patents, and the infringements, which it makes unlawful, are infringements of Australian patents only. If, therefore, an Australian patentee sues in Australia for an infringement alleged to have been committed in England, and it is asked whether the act complained of was actionable in England, the answer must be: No. For his Australian patent gives him no monopoly in England, and what the defendant has done in England is perfectly lawful according to English law.

Patent Protection Overseas

If a patentee wants to extend the protection of their invention outside of Australia they have two choices: first to file patent applications in each country they seek protection within, or to file a single international application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). The PCT is governed by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). The Paris Convention also assists in the filing of applications as it allows applications to be filed in many countries at about the same time. This overcomes the difficulties of novelty that occurs where there is a patent filed in another country prior to filing in Australia. In instances such as this, the Australian application would lack novelty due to disclosure of the patent in other countries. A Paris Convention application overcomes this by allowing later applications in Paris Convention Countries without destroying novelty.

The PCT facilitates the filing of a patent application in a number of countries simultaneously, however the result is still multiple patent applications in multiple countries. A PCT application is subject the examination processes and standards of each of the countries. The PCT allows applicants to file one application for many countries. This is one single application, which split into multiple applications for each jurisdiction. Filing in this way may create a priority date. This can be used in conjunction with national applications. E.g. might file PCT for inventions in 3 countries and a national application in Australia – Paris Convention makes this possible. The PCT makes the process of applying for patents in multiple countries easier.

For more information see WIPO Patent Cooperation Treaty Applicant’s Guide

  1. PA s 43 

  2. PA s 7  2

  3. Sch 1 

  4. PA ss 54-55 

  5. PA s 18 

  6. Re Luminis Pty Ltd & Fertilitiescentrum AB(2004) 62 IPR 420 

  7. PA s 18(3) 

  8. PA s 50(1)(a) 

  9. See WM Wrigley Jr Co v Cadbury Schweppes Pty Ltd (2005) 66 IRP 298 [315] 

  10. TRIPS art 27(2) 

  11. TRIPS art 27(3) 

  12. Lockwood Security Products Pty Ltd v Doric Products Pty Ltd (No 2)(2007) 235 CLR 173, 211 

  13. s 6 Statute of Monopolies 

  14. (1959) 102 CLR 252, [269] 

  15. Grant v Commissioner of Patents (2006) 154 FCR 62 

  16. 447 US 303 (1980) 

  17. [2013] HCA 50 

  18. [2015] HCA 35 

  19. PA s 7(1) 

  20. Patents Act 1952 Cth 

  21. (1977) 137 CLR 228 

  22. Nicaro Holdings Pty Ltd v Martin Engineering Co* (1990) 91 ALR 513 at 517 

  23. Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co v Beiersdorf (1980) 144 CLR 253 

  24. Nicaro Holdings Pty Ltd v Martin Engineering (1990) 91 ALR 513 

  25. PA s 24 

  26. Aktiebolaget Hässle v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2002) 212 CLR 411, 426 [30] 

  27. Meyers Taylor Pty Ltd v Vicarr Industries Ltd (1977) 137 CLR 28, 249 (Aicken J 

  28. H Lundbeck A/S v Alphapharm Pty Ltd (2009) 177 FCR 151, 190, [173] per Bennett J 

  29. Aktiebolaget Hässle v Alphapharm Pty (2002) 212 CLR 411, 426 [30] 

  30. Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Co and 3M Australia Pty Ltd v Beiersdorf (1980) 29 ALR 29 

  31. s 18(1)(c) 

  32. Rehm Pty Ltd v Websters Security System (International) Pty Ltd (1988) 11 IPR 289, 307-8; Rescare Ltd v Anaesthetic Supplies (1992) 25 IPR 119, 142 

  33. Azuko Pty Ltd v Old Digger Pty Ltd (2001) 52 IPR 75 

  34. PA s 9 

  35. PA s 40(1) 

  36. PA s 40(2) 

  37. See Décor Corporation Pty Ltd v Dart Industries Pty Ltd (1988) 13 IPR 385, 400, Catnic Components Ltd v Hill & Smith Ltd [1982] RPC 183 

  38. PA s 38 

  39. PA s 65 

  40. PA ss 67 and 68 

  41. PA s 55; Reg 4.12 

  42. PA s 44, Reg 3.15 

  43. PA s 97 

  44. PA s 51 

  45. PA s 55 

  46. PA s 57 

  47. PA s 20 

  48. PA s 120 

  49. PA s 121 

  50. (1961) 105 CLR 440, 443-444