{"argument_date":"2016-11-01T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2016-11-01T00:00:00Z","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/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case cite Petrella to support a fixed statutory limit.","the opposing sides cite the 1952 Act to preserve laches.","chief_justice_roberts_questioned_if_the_statute_clearly_bars_laches","justice_ginsburg_asked_why_waiting_to_sue_is_not_unscrupulous"],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 12-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 46-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 46-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 20-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 36-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 50-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 50-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 4-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 20-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 34-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 42-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 48-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 16-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 46-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-16"}]}],"caption":"SCA Hygiene Products Aktiebolag v. First Quality Baby Products, LLC","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:22.031898Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"}],"case_status":"argued","dek":"the sides that brought the case argue a six-year statute bars laches. the opposing sides claim laches remains a valid defense.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 36-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 50-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 50-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-52"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2016-11-01T00:00:00Z","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/15-927.html","primary_docket":"15-927","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T18:51:48.958052Z","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 whether a patent statute overrides the equitable defense of laches."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 36-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 50-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 50-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-52"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 1, 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/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case want the Court to bar the laches defense.","the opposing sides want the Court to allow the laches defense."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 36-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 50-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 50-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-52"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["the sides that brought the case argue the statute sets a fixed time limit.","the opposing sides argue the statute preserves existing equitable defenses."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 36-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 50-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 50-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-52"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Chief Justice Roberts asked if the statute clearly bars laches.","Justice Ginsburg asked why waiting to sue is not unscrupulous."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 12-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 46-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 46-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 20-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 4-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 20-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 34-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 42-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 48-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 16-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 46-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-16"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This dispute defines the time limit for patent infringement claims."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 36-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 50-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 50-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-52"}]},{"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 12-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 10, lines 12-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 46-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 46-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-40","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 20-40"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 8-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 24-16"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-6","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 4-6"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-26","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 20-26"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-38","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 34-38"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-4","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 5, lines 42-4"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-12","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 48-12"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-18","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 16-18"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-14","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 46-14"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-16","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 4-16"}]}],"slug":"2016-15-927-sca-hygiene-products-aktiebolag-v-first-quality-baby-products-llc","term":"2016","title":"Does a patent statute bar the laches defense?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-50","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 25, lines 36-50"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 50-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 28, lines 50-52"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-52","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2016/15-927_6j37.pdf","page_label":"file page 3, lines 20-52"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":null,"updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}