Rarely comes a case that is truly iconoclastic, but Thaler v Commissioner of Patents is one of them1. It smashes the cherished norm that an ‘inventor’ must be a natural person. In a world first, Beach J held that an AI system (known as DABUS) can be an ‘inventor’ for patent law purposes2 – here, of a …
Thaler v Commissioner of Patents [2021] FCA 879
On the use of dictionaries to resolve the meaning of ‘inventor’, Beach J in Thaler (at [15]) said more was required than ‘mere resort to old millennium usages’. If words are only ‘pictures of ideas’, the judge needed ‘to grapple with the underlying idea’.
The judge (at [147-153) noted – (1) choice …
King Eeducational v CEO (No 3) [2021] FCA 692
This case deals with an amended provision requiring a decision-maker to be satisfied the applicant ‘is complying, or will comply’ with conditions8. The contextual meaning of ‘and’ and ‘or’ is discussed9.
Also dealt with is a ‘changes in style’ argument that, because the amended provision ‘appears to …
WorkPac Pty Ltd v Rossato [2021] HCA 23
Interpretation and characterisation go hand-in-hand in legal work. It is one thing to say what a statutory term means, but quite another to determine whether something meets that description.
If R had a ‘reasonable expectation of continuing employment’11, he could request a change from casual to permanent status. But he …
Ke v R [2021] NSWCCA 177
It has long been true that, where one interpretation will do manifest injustice and another will avoid it, the latter should be adopted13. This is an instance of consequences being taken into account. Ke pleaded guilty to recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime (funds derived from stolen baby formula)14. It …
As the ‘circle of meaning’ diagram in Episode 66 illustrates, the process of interpretation begins and ends with the text of the law. A recent case shows why this is important – Minister v ERY191. Two options were available on how to read a migration ‘character test’, neither of which was clearly correct. The plurality (at [77]) said …
LibertyWorks Inc v Cth [2021] FCAFC 90
A private think-tank challenged a COVID overseas travel ban made under laws to prevent the spread of disease3. It said its members should not be subjected to a measure a named individual could not be. Also, the ban could only cover domestic movements – cf s 21(1)(b) of the Acts Interpretation …
Coleman v Caesarstone Australia [2021] QSC 125
This is a rare case where words were added into legislation7. A stonemason contracted accelerated silicosis and later depression caused by that disease. Proceedings for a ‘personal injury that is a dust-related condition’ are fast-tracked due to the low life expectancy of sufferers8. Did he have to maintain separate …
Attorney-General v Driver [2021] SASC 66
A violent sex offender was kept in prison after his term expired on community safety grounds10. He said this was ‘draconian’ and would strip him of fundamental human rights under international law11.
Livesey J (at [39-47]) held that, while the provision was subject to the principle of legality, the ‘language …
Peter Greensill Family v FCT [2021] FCAFC 99
This tax case at the intersection of CGT and trust provisions raises how argument by reference to anomalous outcomes may distort the interpretation process. Arguments of this kind may obscure rather than assist identification of statutory purpose.
The court said (at 70]) that care needs to be taken not to allow anomaly …
