{"argument_date":"2012-10-29T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2012-10-29T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2012","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","paragraphs":["The publisher's advocate argued that the statute targets international gray markets.","The importer's advocate argued that the phrase lawfully made under this title is ambiguous.","questions_asked_by_justices"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 3-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 3-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 37-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 42, lines 21-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-13"}]}],"caption":"Kirtsaeng v. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:34.961255Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"The dispute centers on whether the first-sale doctrine applies to copyrighted works manufactured outside the United States.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 42, lines 21-35"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2012-10-29T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2012","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/11-697.html","primary_docket":"11-697","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T22:48:30.232979Z","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 the scope of the first-sale doctrine. It asks if copyright holders can block the resale of lawfully made foreign copies."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 42, lines 21-35"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 29, 2012."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["The importer wants to resell foreign-made books without permission.","The publisher wants to block the resale of foreign-made books."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 42, lines 21-35"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["The importer argues that the first-sale doctrine applies to all lawfully made copies.","The publisher argues that the statute only covers copies made under U.S. law."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 42, lines 21-35"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kagan asked if the statute defines non-piratical copies by U.S. law.","Justice Ginsburg asked how the case would resolve in the European Union."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 3-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 3-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 37-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-13"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case determines whether copyright holders control the global market for their works. It affects the price and availability of imported goods for consumers."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 42, lines 21-35"}]},{"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 11, lines 3-27","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 3-27"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 37-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 37-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 7-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-3","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 43-3"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 33-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 47-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 47-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 15-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 29-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 29-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 27-33","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 27-33"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 7-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 7-13"}]}],"slug":"2012-11-697-kirtsaeng-v-john-wiley-sons-inc","term":"2012","title":"Does U.S. copyright law restrict the resale of books made abroad?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 15-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 15-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 21-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 21-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 42, lines 21-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-697.pdf","page_label":"file page 42, lines 21-35"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}