{"argument_date":"2009-10-07T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2009-10-07T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2009","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","paragraphs":["Charles Sims argued the Second Circuit erred in vacating the settlement.","He claimed the registration requirement is not jurisdictional.","He noted Congress granted district courts jurisdiction over copyright actions.","Ms. Anders argued the registration requirement falls between jurisdictional and waivable categories."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 31-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 29-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 29-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 39-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 45-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-11"}]}],"caption":"Reed Elsevier, Inc. v. Muchnick","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.210722Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:26.234995Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case seek to enforce a settlement covering unregistered works. the opposing sides argue the registration requirement blocks such claims.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 29-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 29-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 39-43"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2009-10-07T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2009","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/08-103.html","primary_docket":"08-103","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-31T02:06:16.402125Z","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 whether a copyright registration mandate prevents courts from hearing claims about unregistered works."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 29-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 29-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 39-43"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 7, 2009."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 45-5"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want to enforce a settlement covering unregistered works.","the opposing sides want to block claims about unregistered works."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 29-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 29-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 39-43"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the registration rule is not jurisdictional.","the opposing sides argue the registration rule is a mandatory bar."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 29-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 29-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 39-43"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked if this case differs from Arbaugh.","Justice Ginsburg asked if the rule binds district courts only."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 31-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 31-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 45-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-11"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute determines whether copyright holders can settle claims for unregistered works. It defines the scope of federal court jurisdiction over copyright disputes. It affects how parties structure settlement agreements involving intellectual property."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 29-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 29-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 39-43"}]},{"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 10, lines 31-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 31-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 45-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 45-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 33-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 33-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 13-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 13-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 45-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 45-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 13-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 13-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 3-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 3-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 37-39"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 43-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 49-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 49-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 33-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 33-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-11"}]}],"slug":"2009-08-103-reed-elsevier-inc-v-muchnick","term":"2009","title":"Does copyright registration bar suits for unregistered works?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 29-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 19, lines 29-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 15-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 15-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 17-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 39-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/pdfs/transcripts/2009/08-103.pdf","page_label":"file page 54, lines 39-43"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}