October Term 2006 · Docket 06-480
Should courts apply the rule of reason to resale price maintenance?
Leegin argues the per se rule is outdated. PSKS argues it prevents harmful price fixing.
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
Olson argued the per se rule is misguided and anticompetitive.
Coykendall argued discouraging price cuts is bad antitrust policy.
Hungar argued the Dr. Miles rule conflicts with modern jurisprudence.
Underwood argued the agreement prevents discounts and price competition.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 41-21
- 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 25-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-33
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on how courts evaluate resale price maintenance agreements. Leegin seeks a flexible standard. PSKS seeks strict prohibition.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 41-21
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on March 26, 2007.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
What each side wants
Leegin wants the Court to replace the per se rule with the rule of reason.
PSKS wants the Court to keep the per se rule for resale price maintenance.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 41-21
What each side says
Leegin argues the per se rule is outdated and anticompetitive.
PSKS argues the agreement prevents price competition among retailers.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 41-21
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked how to decide when economists disagree on consumer impact.
Justice Stevens asked why to distinguish if the advocate admits per se unlawfulness.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-5
- 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 25-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-33
Why it matters
This case determines how courts evaluate vertical price agreements. It affects retail pricing strategies. It shapes antitrust enforcement standards.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 41-21
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 7-15 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-5
- 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 25-33 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 9-17 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 9-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 31-33
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 27-39 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 41-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 27-39 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 27-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 17-9 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 17-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 43, lines 41-21 — Transcript, file page 43, lines 41-21
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.