{"argument_date":"2012-11-07T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2012-11-07T00:00:00Z","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/2012/11-982.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Anders argued a trademark holder can end a case with a broad promise.","She said the voluntary cessation doctrine should guide the analysis.","Mr. Dabney asked if any covenant could make a competitor feel secure.","He suggested no written promise might provide total security."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 43-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 43-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-9"}]}],"caption":"Already, LLC v. Nike, Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.067139Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:35.086882Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Nike argues a broad promise to stop suing ends the legal dispute. Already, LLC argues the promise leaves real harm and uncertainty.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 17-21"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2012-11-07T00:00:00Z","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/11-982.html","primary_docket":"11-982","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T22:38:06.230688Z","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":["Nike wants the Court to accept a broad promise to stop suing as a final fix. Already, LLC wants the Court to reject that promise as insufficient. The dispute centers on whether a voluntary stop in enforcement ends a legal case."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 17-21"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 7, 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/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 17-21"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Nike wants the Court to accept its broad promise to stop suing as a final fix.","Already, LLC wants the Court to reject that promise as insufficient to end the case."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 17-21"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Nike argues a broad promise to stop suing eliminates the legal controversy.","Already, LLC argues the promise leaves real harm and uncertainty for competitors."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 17-21"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kennedy asked if demanding marketing plans from competitors is injurious.","Justice Kennedy asked if the claim of high costs is in the record."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 43-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 43-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-9"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines when a promise to stop suing ends a lawsuit. It affects how companies protect trademarks. It shapes the balance between legal certainty and competitive freedom."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 17-21"}]},{"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 7-17","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 7-17"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 13-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 21-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 7-9"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 17-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 23-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 43-13","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 43-13"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-49","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 7-49"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 41-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 9-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 11-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 15-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-5","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 47-5"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 13-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-9","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 9-9"}]}],"slug":"2012-11-982-already-llc-v-nike-inc","term":"2012","title":"Can a trademark owner end a lawsuit by promising not to sue?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-45","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 35-45"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-43","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 21, lines 19-43"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 19-11"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 27-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2012/11-982.pdf","page_label":"file page 59, lines 17-21"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}