{"argument_date":"2005-03-29T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2005-03-29T00:00:00Z","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/2004/04-480.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Verrilli stated infringement is the only significant use of the services.","Mr. Taranto argued the software has large and growing legitimate uses.","Mr. Clement claimed the lower decision allows businesses to build on infringement.","Mr. Verrilli described the situation as a shell game."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 1-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 1-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 33-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 49-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 49-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-7"}]}],"caption":"Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios Inc. v. Grokster, Ltd.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.505933Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:29.508574Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Studios claim Grokster and StreamCast induce infringement. The companies argue their tools have legal uses.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 1-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 1-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 33-39"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2005-03-29T00:00:00Z","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/04-480.html","primary_docket":"04-480","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T14:38:21.150900Z","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":["This case tests when software sellers face copyright liability. Studios argue the tools serve no legal purpose. The companies claim the tools have broad legitimate uses."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 1-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 1-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 33-39"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 29, 2005."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 49-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 49-54"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Studios want the Court to hold the companies liable for infringement.","Companies want the Court to protect their software distribution."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 1-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 1-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 33-39"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Studios argue the tools serve only infringing purposes.","Companies argue the tools have significant legitimate uses."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 1-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 1-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 33-39"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Stevens asked if the claim of no legitimate use is accurate.","Justice O'Connor asked if the Court could address active inducement."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 49-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 49-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-7"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines the limits of secondary copyright liability. It determines when software sellers face legal responsibility for user actions. The outcome shapes the future of digital file-sharing tools."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 1-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 1-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 33-39"}]},{"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 37-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 37-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 47-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 5-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 19-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 5-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 49-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 49-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 37-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 45-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 49-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 5-7"}]}],"slug":"2004-04-480-metro-goldwyn-mayer-studios-inc-v-grokster-ltd","term":"2004","title":"Does selling tools for file sharing create copyright liability?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 1-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 1-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-54","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 31-54"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 33-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2004/04-480.pdf","page_label":"file page 50, lines 33-39"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}