Bluescope Steel engaged in long running battle with IP
Australia to protect branding pre-painted steel strip.
Bluescope Steel Limited [2017] APO
59
Patent application AU2016208431 (the '431 application)
entitled "Branded Products" was filed by Bluescope Steel
on 29 July 2016 and was the third successive divisional patent
application stemming from a complete patent application filed in
2005. Each application was directed to forming an improved brand on
a pre-painted steel strip by partially removing a section of a
layer on the strip so that branding did not form a
"dominant" part of the steel strip product.
The history of the family of applications included a total of
nine unfavourable examination reports, with "manner of
manufacture" and "inventive step" objections
remaining an unresolvable stumbling block throughout the
examination process.
