October Term 2004 · Docket 03-1237
Does the patent law bar claims for research tools?
Merck argues the patent law excludes research tools. Integra claims the law covers them.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
The arguments, in order
This case may have been argued more than once. Each entry below uses that session's official transcript. Later arguments do not erase earlier ones.
Argument 1 ·
What happened at the argument
Rosenkranz stated there is no dispute among parties.
Joseffer argued the lower courts committed legal errors.
Flores cited Black versus Cutter Laboratories.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-15
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of patentable subject matter. It asks if research tools fall outside patent protection.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 20, 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
What each side wants
Merck wants the Court to exclude research tools from patent protection.
Integra wants the Court to allow patents on research tools.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
What each side says
Merck argues the statute excludes research tools from patent coverage.
Integra argues the statute includes research tools in patent coverage.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
What the justices asked
Justice O'Connor asked if the jury instruction was preserved.
Justice O'Connor asked about the research tools problem.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-15
Why it matters
The outcome defines the boundary of patentable inventions. It shapes the scope of intellectual property rights. It affects the development of scientific research tools.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
What happens next
This article currently covers the argument record. Use the official docket link for later case activity.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 39-54 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 39-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-13 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-29 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-29 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 3-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 3-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 11-15
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 15-1 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 15-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 17-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 17-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 15-37 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 15-37
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Official Transcript ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.