October Term 2010 · Docket 08-1423
Does the first sale doctrine bar copyright holders from blocking imported goods?
Costco and Omega dispute whether copyright law stops owners from blocking imported goods.
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
Costco's lawyer argued the case mirrors a prior precedent.
Omega's lawyer argued copyright law protects domestic distribution rights.
The government argued lawfully made means made under Title 17.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 37-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-51
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Costco wants to import Omega watches. Omega wants to block those imports. The Court must decide if copyright law allows this block.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 37-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 15-25
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 8, 2010.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
What each side wants
Costco wants the Court to allow the importation of the watches.
Omega wants the Court to block the importation of the watches.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 37-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 15-25
What each side says
Costco argues the first sale doctrine bars Omega from blocking the imports.
Omega argues copyright law allows it to block the imports.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 37-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 15-25
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked why the definition of lawfully made matters.
Justice Breyer asked how the Court handles millions of contracts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-51
Why it matters
This case defines the limits of copyright control over imported goods. It affects how companies manage global supply chains. It determines who controls the resale of foreign-made items.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 37-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 15-25
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 10, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 51-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 51-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 17-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 17-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 45-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 45-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 43-51
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 21, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 37-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 37-19 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 37-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-23 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 15-25
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.