October Term 2014 · Docket 13-352
Does a trademark board decision bind later infringement courts?
The dispute centers on whether a prior trademark board ruling prevents a later court from re-evaluating the same confusion claim.
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
Mr. Jay argued the Lanham Act contains one confusion concept.
Mr. Bash argued the board and infringement issues are identical.
Mr. Katyal argued Congress reserved final rights for Article III courts.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-46 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 30-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-24 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 50-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 42-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 42-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 46-20 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 46-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 52-50 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 52-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 36-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-40
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the finality of administrative trademark decisions. The core conflict involves the scope of preclusion in federal courts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 46-20 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 46-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 52-50 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 52-50
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 2, 2014.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 52-4
What each side wants
B&B Hardware wants the board decision to bind the later court.
Hargis Industries wants the later court to re-evaluate the confusion claim.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 46-20 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 46-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 52-50 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 52-50
What each side says
B&B Hardware argues the Lanham Act contains one confusion standard.
Hargis Industries argues the board decision does not resolve the infringement issue.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 46-20 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 46-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 52-50 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 52-50
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked what deference courts give to the board.
Justice Scalia questioned whether the board decision is broader than infringement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 42-44 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-46 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 30-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-24 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 50-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 42-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 42-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 36-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-40
Why it matters
This case defines the finality of administrative trademark decisions. It shapes how courts treat prior board rulings in infringement suits. The outcome affects the cost and speed of trademark litigation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 46-20 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 46-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 52-50 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 52-50
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 42-44 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 42-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-46 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 30-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 52-24 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 52-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 50-6 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 50-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 42-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 42-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 6-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 6-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 22-32 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 22-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 52-4 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 52-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 8-28 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 8-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 10-22 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 10-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 36-46 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 36-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 34-44 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 34-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-40
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 38-48 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 46-20 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 46-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 52-50 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 52-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 27, lines 34-48 — Transcript, file page 27, lines 34-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 46-20 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 46-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 52-50 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 52-50
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.