October Term 2015 · Docket 14-1513
Can a reasonable defense block patent damage enhancements?
Patent holders seek higher damages for bad faith. Defenders argue reasonable beliefs should limit penalties.
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
Jeffrey Wall argued the Federal Circuit test is too rigid. He stated it immunizes bad faith copiers from any enhancement.
Jeffrey Martinez agreed mere negligence is not enough for enhanced damages. He argued the Federal Circuit wrongly bars damages for reasonable defenses.
Justice Breyer noted the statute allows courts to increase damages up to three times. He stated he does not get much guidance from that text.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 32-36 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 32-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 4-16 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 4-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 10-32 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 10-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 48-16 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 48-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 24-1 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 24-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 50-14 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 50-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-46 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 46-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-12 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 34-14
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case concerns patent infringement damages. One side wants courts to award higher penalties for bad faith. The other side wants courts to limit penalties when defendants have reasonable defenses.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 48-16 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 48-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 24-1 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 24-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 38-48
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on February 23, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 24-26
What each side wants
Halo Electronics wants courts to award higher damages for bad faith infringement.
Pulse Electronics wants courts to limit damages when defendants have reasonable defenses.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 48-16 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 48-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 24-1 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 24-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 38-48
What each side says
Halo Electronics argues the Federal Circuit test wrongly immunizes bad faith copiers from penalties.
Pulse Electronics argues the statute lacks clear guidance for enhancing damages beyond standard amounts.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 48-16 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 48-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 24-1 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 24-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 38-48
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked why the nature of infringement is so determinative under the side that brought the case's view.
Justice Breyer asked if the advocate is satisfied with the current statutory interpretation.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 32-36 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 32-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 4-16 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 4-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 10-32 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 10-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 50-14 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 50-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-46 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 46-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-12 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 34-14
Why it matters
This dispute shapes how courts punish patent infringement. It affects the financial risk for companies using patented technology. It influences the balance between protecting inventors and allowing market entry.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 48-16 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 48-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 24-1 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 24-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 38-48
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 11, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 32-36 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 32-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 4-16 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 4-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 10-32 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 10-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-20 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 24-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 24-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 59, lines 50-14 — Transcript, file page 59, lines 50-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-22 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 44-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 44-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 60, lines 36-38 — Transcript, file page 60, lines 36-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 24-26 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 24-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-46 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 46-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 50-12 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 50-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 20-24 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 20-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 34-14 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 34-14
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 19, lines 48-16 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 48-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 24-1 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 24-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 38-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 48-16 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 48-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 30, lines 24-1 — Transcript, file page 30, lines 24-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-22 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 16-26 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 16-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 38-48 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 38-48
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.