October Term 2010 · Docket 09-1159
Does a university own inventions made by its researchers?
Stanford and Roche dispute who owns a medical test invented by a Stanford researcher.
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
Stanford's advocate stated the Bayh-Dole Act comprehensively disposes of rights in federally funded inventions.
The government's advocate noted Stanford and government interests align but may not always do so.
Roche's advocate stated the Federal Circuit did not reach certain questions on remand.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- 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 37-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-23
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Stanford argues the Bayh-Dole Act gives universities rights to federally funded inventions. Roche argues the researcher assigned his rights to a private company first.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-19
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 28, 2011.
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 58, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-23
What each side wants
Stanford wants the Court to confirm university ownership of the invention.
Roche wants the Court to confirm the private company owns the invention.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-19
What each side says
Stanford argues the Bayh-Dole Act automatically vests rights in the university.
Roche argues the researcher's prior assignment to a private company controls.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-19
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if Stanford would sell U.S. interests to advance its own.
Justice Scalia asked how the outcome changes if the researcher was already a Stanford employee.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 37-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-23
Why it matters
This case defines who controls federally funded medical research. It affects university research funding and private company investment. It shapes the balance between public and private ownership of scientific discoveries.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-19
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 13-21 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 37-41 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 37-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 25-39 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 25-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 11-19
- 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 37-5 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 37-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 5-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 5-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 41-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 41-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 58, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 58, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 43-3 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 43-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 33-41 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 33-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-21 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 5-23 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 5-23
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 49-13 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-3 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 41-19 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 41-19
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.