October Term 2004 · Docket 04-480
Does selling tools for file sharing create copyright liability?
Studios claim Grokster and StreamCast induce infringement. The companies argue their tools have legal uses.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — 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
Mr. Verrilli stated infringement is the only significant use of the services.
Mr. Taranto argued the software has large and growing legitimate uses.
Mr. Clement claimed the lower decision allows businesses to build on infringement.
Mr. Verrilli described the situation as a shell game.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 1-23 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 1-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-54 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 49-54 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 49-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-7
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests when software sellers face copyright liability. Studios argue the tools serve no legal purpose. The companies claim the tools have broad legitimate uses.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 1-23 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 1-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-54 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 33-39
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 29, 2005.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 49-54 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 49-54
What each side wants
Studios want the Court to hold the companies liable for infringement.
Companies want the Court to protect their software distribution.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 1-23 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 1-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-54 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 33-39
What each side says
Studios argue the tools serve only infringing purposes.
Companies argue the tools have significant legitimate uses.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 1-23 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 1-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-54 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 33-39
What the justices asked
Justice Stevens asked if the claim of no legitimate use is accurate.
Justice O'Connor asked if the Court could address active inducement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 49-54 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 49-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-7
Why it matters
This dispute defines the limits of secondary copyright liability. It determines when software sellers face legal responsibility for user actions. The outcome shapes the future of digital file-sharing tools.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 1-23 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 1-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-54 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 33-39
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 37-43 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 5-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 5-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 49-54 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 49-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-43 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 15-15 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 15-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 37-37 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 37-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-45 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 5-7 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 5-7
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 19, lines 1-23 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 1-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-54 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 1-23 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 1-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 31-54 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 31-54
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-35 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 50, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 50, lines 33-39
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.