October Term 2010 · Docket 10-6
Does willful blindness satisfy the knowledge requirement for patent inducement?
The dispute centers on whether a company that deliberately avoids learning about a patent infringes it.
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
Global-Tech advocates for a purposeful and culpable test for inducement.
SEB advocates for a standard that includes willful blindness.
Justice Scalia questioned why a company would not disclose reverse-engineering details.
Justice Alito asked if a client refusing to know avoids liability.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-5
- 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 11-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 33-3 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 33-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-13
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Global-Tech Appliances and SEB S.A. disagree on the mental state required for patent inducement. Global-Tech argues actual knowledge is necessary. SEB argues deliberate ignorance suffices.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 33-3 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 33-3
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 23, 2011.
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
Global-Tech wants the Court to require actual knowledge of a specific patent.
SEB wants the Court to accept willful blindness as sufficient knowledge.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 33-3 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 33-3
What each side says
Global-Tech argues that only actual knowledge of a specific patent creates liability.
SEB argues that deliberately avoiding information about a patent creates liability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 33-3 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 33-3
What the justices asked
Justice Scalia asked if willful blindness would be enough for liability.
Justice Alito asked if actual knowledge is the only standard for liability.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 51-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-13
Why it matters
This case defines the mental state required for patent inducement. It determines when companies face liability for ignoring patent risks. It shapes how businesses conduct due diligence on new products.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 33-3 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 33-3
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 51-5 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 51-5
- 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 11-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 27-37 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 27-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 45-5 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 45-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 5-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 5-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 51-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 51-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 17-27 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 17-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 7-13 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 7-13
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 27, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 33-3 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 33-3
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 15-31 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 15-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-49 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 33-3 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 33-3
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.