{"argument_date":"2005-04-20T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2005-04-20T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","paragraphs":["Rosenkranz stated there is no dispute among parties.","Joseffer argued the lower courts committed legal errors.","Flores cited Black versus Cutter Laboratories."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 15-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 39-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-15"}]}],"caption":"Merck KGaA v. Integra Lifesciences I, LTD.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.368730Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Merck argues the patent law excludes research tools. Integra claims the law covers them.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 15-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2005-04-20T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2004","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/03-1237.html","primary_docket":"03-1237","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T14:31:43.738736Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"official_transcript","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["The case tests the scope of patentable subject matter. It asks if research tools fall outside patent protection."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 15-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 20, 2005."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Merck wants the Court to exclude research tools from patent protection.","Integra wants the Court to allow patents on research tools."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 15-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Merck argues the statute excludes research tools from patent coverage.","Integra argues the statute includes research tools in patent coverage."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 15-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice O'Connor asked if the jury instruction was preserved.","Justice O'Connor asked about the research tools problem."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 39-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-15"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome defines the boundary of patentable inventions. It shapes the scope of intellectual property rights. It affects the development of scientific research tools."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 15-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"}]},{"heading":"What happens next","paragraphs":["This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 39-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 15-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 35-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 25-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 27-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 3-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 11-15"}]}],"slug":"2004-03-1237-merck-kgaa-v-integra-lifesciences-i-ltd","term":"2004","title":"Does the patent law bar claims for research tools?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 17, lines 15-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 17-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/03-1237.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 15-37"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}