{"argument_date":"2015-03-31T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2015-03-31T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2014","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","paragraphs":["Mr. Werbner argued that an infringer who actively induces cannot escape responsibility by claiming the patent is invalid.","Ms. Anders asserted that a good-faith belief in non-infringement or invalidity should preclude liability for inducing enforcement.","Mr. Waxman contended that the linchpin of scienter is knowledge that the induced acts violate the patentee's rights.","Justice Scalia questioned whether common law aider and abetter liability requires wrongful intent beyond the primary actor's conduct."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 20-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 18-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 18-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 4-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 4-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 50-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 12-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 20-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 50-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 30-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 42-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 10-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 10-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 34-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 48-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 16-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 40-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 40-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 48-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 48-34"}]}],"caption":"Commil USA, LLC v. Cisco Systems, Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:23.184026Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Commil argues that a good-faith belief in patent invalidity should block inducement liability. Cisco argues that such a belief is irrelevant to the intent requirement.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 20-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 18-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 18-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 4-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 4-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-32"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2015-03-31T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2014","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/13-896.html","primary_docket":"13-896","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T19:43:20.899063Z","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 dispute centers on the mental state required for patent inducement. Commil claims a good-faith belief in invalidity negates the necessary intent. Cisco contends that knowledge of the patent's existence is sufficient for liability."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 20-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 18-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 18-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 4-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 4-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-32"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 31, 2015."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Commil wants the Court to hold that a good-faith belief in invalidity defeats inducement liability.","Cisco wants the Court to hold that a good-faith belief in invalidity does not defeat inducement liability."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 20-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 18-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 18-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 4-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 4-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-32"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Commil argues that inducement requires intent to do wrong, which a good-faith belief in invalidity negates.","Cisco argues that inducement requires only knowledge that the acts violate the patentee's rights, not a belief in validity."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 20-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 18-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 18-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 4-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 4-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-32"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Scalia asked whether aider and abetter liability requires wrongful intent under common law.","Justice Kagan asked how a seller determines liability when patent construction is ambiguous."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 50-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 50-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 12-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 20-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 50-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 30-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 42-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 10-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 10-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 34-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 48-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 16-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 40-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 40-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 48-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 48-34"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the mental state required for patent inducement. It determines whether good-faith beliefs in invalidity shield actors from liability. The outcome shapes patent enforcement and market competition."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 20-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 18-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 18-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 4-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 4-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-32"}]},{"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 50-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 50-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 12-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 12-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 20-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 50-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 50-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 30-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 42-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 10-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 10-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 34-36","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 34-36"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 48-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 16-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 16-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 40-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 40-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 48-34","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 48-34"}]}],"slug":"2014-13-896-commil-usa-llc-v-cisco-systems-inc","term":"2014","title":"Does a good-faith belief that a patent is invalid defeat inducement liability?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 20-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 20-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 18-24","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 24, lines 18-24"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 4-22","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 27, lines 4-22"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2014/13-896_aplc.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-32"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}