{"argument_date":"2024-02-21T00:00:00Z","arguments":[{"argument_date":"2024-02-21T00:00:00Z","heading":"What happened at the argument","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2023","official_transcript_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","paragraphs":["Shanmugam argued the three-year limit bars older damages.","Earnhardt argued the discovery rule was not decided below.","Dubin argued the main legal question assumes a discovery rule."],"reargument":false,"sequence":1,"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 55-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 23-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 23-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 39-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 39-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-51"}]}],"caption":"Warner Chappell Music, Inc. v. Nealy","case_history":[{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T20:06:15.757341Z","explanation":"An official oral-argument transcript was verified.","status":"argued"},{"changed_at":"2026-08-29T23:55:58.666453Z","explanation":"An official Court opinion was verified.","status":"decided"}],"case_status":"decided","dek":"Warner Chappell seeks damages for older acts. Nealy argues the three-year limit bars those claims.","dek_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 39-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 39-51"}],"dispositions":[],"latest_court_document_date":"2024-02-21T00:00:00Z","maturity":"post_opinion","official_detail_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcript/2023","official_disposition_urls":["https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/601us2r19_jifl.pdf"],"official_docket_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/22-1078.html","primary_docket":"22-1078","revisions":[{"correction_note":"Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.","created_at":"2026-08-30T16:12:23.452286Z","maturity":"post_opinion","revision_number":1},{"correction_note":"Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.","created_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z","maturity":"post_opinion","revision_number":2}],"schema_version":"1.1","sections":[{"heading":"What this case is about","paragraphs":["The dispute centers on the Copyright Act's three-year statute of limitations. the sides that brought the case want to recover damages for acts older than three years. the opposing sides argue the law bars those specific damages."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 39-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 39-51"}]},{"heading":"How the case got here","paragraphs":["The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 21, 2024."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"}]},{"heading":"What each side wants","paragraphs":["Warner Chappell wants to recover damages for acts older than three years.","Nealy wants the Court to bar damages for acts older than three years."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 39-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 39-51"}]},{"heading":"What each side says","paragraphs":["Warner Chappell argues the statute allows damages for older acts.","Nealy argues the three-year limit strictly bars those damages."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 39-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 39-51"}]},{"heading":"What the justices asked","paragraphs":["Justice Thomas asked if lower courts ruled on the discovery rule.","Justice Sotomayor asked how the statute ties damages to the time limit."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 39-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 55-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 23-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 23-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-51"}]},{"heading":"Why it matters","paragraphs":["This case defines the scope of copyright damages. It determines how long plaintiffs can pursue older acts. It shapes the financial risk for copyright holders."],"sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 39-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 39-51"}]},{"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 11, lines 39-15","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 11, lines 39-15"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 55-7","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 12, lines 55-7"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-25","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 11-25"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 31-31","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 13, lines 31-31"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 13-19","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 13-19"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 23-47","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 15, lines 23-47"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 11-21"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-37","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 31-37"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 6, lines 49-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 21-23","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 21-23"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-35","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 7, lines 33-35"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 41-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 8, lines 41-51"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 29-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 9, lines 29-51"}]}],"slug":"2023-22-1078-warner-chappell-music-inc-v-nealy","term":"2023","title":"Can copyright plaintiffs recover damages for acts older than three years?","title_sources":[{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 39-41","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 31, lines 39-41"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-29","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 4, lines 23-29"},{"evidence_type":"Transcript","label":"Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 39-51","official_url":"https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2023/22-1078_775f.pdf","page_label":"file page 52, lines 39-51"}],"topics":[],"undated_disposition_date_fallback":"latest_argument_date","updated_at":"2026-09-05T03:22:24Z"}