October Term 2012 · Docket 11-982
Can a trademark owner end a lawsuit by promising not to sue?
Nike argues a broad promise to stop suing ends the legal dispute. Already, LLC argues the promise leaves real harm and uncertainty.
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
Ms. Anders argued a trademark holder can end a case with a broad promise.
She said the voluntary cessation doctrine should guide the analysis.
Mr. Dabney asked if any covenant could make a competitor feel secure.
He suggested no written promise might provide total security.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 43-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-9
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
Nike wants the Court to accept a broad promise to stop suing as a final fix. Already, LLC wants the Court to reject that promise as insufficient. The dispute centers on whether a voluntary stop in enforcement ends a legal case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-21
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 7, 2012.
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 17-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-21
What each side wants
Nike wants the Court to accept its broad promise to stop suing as a final fix.
Already, LLC wants the Court to reject that promise as insufficient to end the case.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-21
What each side says
Nike argues a broad promise to stop suing eliminates the legal controversy.
Already, LLC argues the promise leaves real harm and uncertainty for competitors.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-21
What the justices asked
Justice Kennedy asked if demanding marketing plans from competitors is injurious.
Justice Kennedy asked if the claim of high costs is in the record.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 43-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-9
Why it matters
This case defines when a promise to stop suing ends a lawsuit. It affects how companies protect trademarks. It shapes the balance between legal certainty and competitive freedom.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-21
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 7-17 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 7-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 13-25 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 13-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 39-41 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 39-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 43-13 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 43-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 7-49 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 7-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 41-1 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 41-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 9-25 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 9-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 11-11 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 11-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 15-29 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 15-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 47-5 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 47-5
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 13-21 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 13-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 9-9 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 9-9
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 13, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 19-43 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 19-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 19-11 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 19-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 27-15 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 27-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 17-21
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.