{"argument_date":"2016-10-11T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2016-10-11T00:00:00Z","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/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","paragraphs":["Ms. Sullivan argued a smartphone contains many technologies.","Mr. Fletcher stated the parties agree on the legal questions.","Ms. Sullivan emphasized the plaintiff bears the burden of proof."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 50-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 50-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 8-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 24-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 24-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 40-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 40-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 48-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 48-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 4-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 4-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 20-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 38-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 8-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 24-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 24-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 48-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 48-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 16-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 46-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 24-28"}]}],"caption":"Samsung Electronics Co., v. Apple Inc.","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:22.137149Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:22.154040Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"Samsung and Apple dispute whether design patent damages apply to the entire phone or only specific parts.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 48-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 48-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 4-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 4-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 24-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 24-46"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2016-10-11T00:00:00Z","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/15-777.html","primary_docket":"15-777","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:52:48.710639Z","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 design patent remedies. The core issue is defining the article of manufacture for damages."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 48-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 48-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 4-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 4-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 24-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 24-46"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 11, 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/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 48-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 48-50"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Samsung wants damages limited to specific phone components.","Apple wants damages based on the entire smartphone."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 48-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 48-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 4-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 4-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 24-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 24-46"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Samsung argues the plaintiff must prove the specific article of manufacture.","Apple argues the whole phone constitutes the article of manufacture."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 48-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 48-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 4-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 4-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 24-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 24-46"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Kennedy asked how to instruct a jury on the test.","Justice Alito asked about the difference between causation and apportionment."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 50-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 50-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 8-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 24-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 24-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 40-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 40-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 20-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 38-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 8-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 48-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 48-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 16-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 46-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 24-28"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["The outcome sets the standard for calculating design patent damages. It determines whether profits from the whole product count. This affects compensation for design infringement claims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 48-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 48-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 4-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 4-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 24-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 24-46"}]},{"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 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 50-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 50-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-8","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 8-8"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 24-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 24-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 40-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 14, lines 40-46"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 20-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 20-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-42","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 38-42"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 8-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 8-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 48-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 48-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 16-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 16-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 46-48","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 46-48"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 46-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 24-28","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 24-28"}]}],"slug":"2016-15-777-samsung-electronics-co-v-apple-inc","term":"2016","title":"Does a design patent cover the whole smartphone or just its components?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 20, lines 48-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 20, lines 48-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 33, lines 4-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 33, lines 4-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 24-46","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-777_1b82.pdf","page_label":"file page 56, lines 24-46"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}