{"argument_date":"2016-12-06T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2016-12-06T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2016","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","paragraphs":["Carter Phillips argued the case involves international trade context.","Phillips compared the facts to the passage of Section 271(f).","Justice Sotomayor asked if the product is available outside the U.S.","Justice Ginsburg asked why a specific component was exported from the U.S."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 42-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 28-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 28-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 28-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 38-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 38-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 50-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 28-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 26-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 38-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 44-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-4"}]}],"caption":"Life Technologies Corp. v. Promega Corp.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:21.977212Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Life Technologies and Promega dispute whether exporting a single part violates U.S. patent law.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 42-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 28-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 28-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-8"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2016-12-06T00:00:00Z","maturity":"official_transcript","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2016","official_disposition_urls":[],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/14-1538.html","primary_docket":"14-1538","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:48:41.684051Z","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 the scope of U.S. patent law abroad. It asks if supplying one component overseas counts as infringement."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 42-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 28-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 28-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-8"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 6, 2016."],"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/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Life Technologies wants the Court to rule that supplying one component abroad does not infringe a U.S. patent.","Promega wants the Court to rule that supplying one component abroad does infringe a U.S. patent."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 42-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 28-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 28-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-8"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Life Technologies argues that U.S. patent law does not reach the supply of a single component abroad.","Promega argues that U.S. patent law covers the supply of a single component abroad."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 42-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 28-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 28-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-8"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Alito asked if all five components must be made in the United States.","Justice Alito asked if a substantial portion means a majority of components."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 28-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 38-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 38-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 50-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 28-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 26-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 38-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 44-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-4"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the reach of U.S. patent law. It determines whether companies can supply parts abroad without liability. It affects global trade and innovation incentives."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 42-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 28-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 28-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-8"}]},{"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 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-10","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 10-10"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-30","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 28-30"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 38-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 38-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 50-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-32","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 28-32"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 26-28"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 38-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 44-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 14-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-4"}]}],"slug":"2016-14-1538-life-technologies-corp-v-promega-corp","term":"2016","title":"Does supplying one component abroad infringe a U.S. patent?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 18, lines 42-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 28-1","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 29, lines 28-1"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/14-1538_j4ek.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-8"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}