The Interlocutory Injunction Dilemma in Patent Infringement and Invalidity Disputes

Abstract

Interlocutory injunctions pose a dilemma for patent law and practice as they require a court to assess the parties' submissions and make decisions before all the issues are thoroughly argued. While the relevant legal principles are settled, there remains some uncertainty for intellectual property owners (or licensees or assignees) maintaining their statutory privileges and protecting their broader commercial interests in exploiting their privileges (such as market share, brand, good will, reputation, and so on). This article examines interlocutory injunctions where there is both an alleged infringement of a Patents Act 1990 (Cth) "standard patent" and a challenge to patent invalidity, to explore the potential of interlocutory injunctions as a tool to promote, encourage and coerce patent owners to provide access to, and disseminate, their patent protected products, method and processes while respecting core exclusive rights.