October Term 2006 · Docket 05-608
Can a patent licensee sue to invalidate a patent while paying royalties?
MedImmune seeks to challenge a patent's validity. Genentech argues the license contract bars that suit.
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. Kester argued the dispute is concrete.
Ms. Mahoney described the complaint's four counts.
Ms. Maynard argued the dispute involves money.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-49 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 3-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 45-14 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 45-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-17
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
MedImmune wants to invalidate a patent. Genentech wants to enforce the license contract.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-49 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 3-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 31-39
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on October 4, 2006.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 45-14 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 45-14
What each side wants
MedImmune wants to invalidate the patent.
Genentech wants to enforce the license contract.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-49 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 3-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 31-39
What each side says
MedImmune argues the dispute is concrete.
Genentech argues the contract bars the suit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-49 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 3-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 31-39
What the justices asked
Justice Ginsburg asked how a licensee challenges validity.
Justice Souter asked if the issue is jurisdictional.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 45-14 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 45-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-17
Why it matters
This case defines patent license enforcement. It affects how companies challenge patents. It shapes the balance between contract and patent law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-49 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 3-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 31-39
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 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-19 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-47 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 9-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-43 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 45-14 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 45-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 25-25 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 25-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 31-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 31-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-17
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 37-47 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-49 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 3-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 31-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 37-47 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 37-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 3-49 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 3-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-7 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 31-39 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 31-39
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.