October Term 2015 · Docket 15-375
Should courts award attorney fees to copyright plaintiffs who win on weak claims?
Kirtsaeng argues the Copyright Act limits fee awards to unreasonable conduct. Wiley argues the statute allows fees for any successful plaintiff.
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
Rosenkranz argued Congress modified the American Rule in the Copyright Act. He stated this was not just to punish unreasonable positions.
Rosenkranz cited statistics showing 44 percent and 85 percent. He noted no case awarded fees where the plaintiff was unreasonable.
Goldenberg discussed the Matthew Bender standard in the Second Circuit. She noted objective reasonableness should get substantial weight.
Smith argued the lower courts did everything right. He supported the fee award for the successful plaintiff.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 28-1 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 28-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-16
- 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 18-30 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 46-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 24-12 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 24-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-28 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 14-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-40 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-26 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 6-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 18-24 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 18-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-46 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 6-8
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests how courts decide who pays legal costs in copyright disputes. The lower court denied fees to the winner. Kirtsaeng wants to keep that denial. Wiley wants the court to award fees to the winner.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 28-1 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 28-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 46-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 24-12 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 24-12
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 25, 2016.
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 55, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 19-21
What each side wants
Kirtsaeng wants the court to deny Wiley's fee request. He argues the statute limits fees to unreasonable conduct.
Wiley wants the court to award fees to the winner. It argues the statute allows fees for any successful plaintiff.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 28-1 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 28-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 46-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 24-12 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 24-12
What each side says
Kirtsaeng argues Congress modified the American Rule in the Copyright Act. He claims this change targets only unreasonable positions.
Wiley argues the lower courts acted correctly. It claims the statute supports fee awards for successful plaintiffs.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 28-1 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 28-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 46-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 24-12 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 24-12
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the case could have been woefully infringing. She noted it would have had circuit precedent.
Chief Justice Roberts asked if defendants in copyright cases still show up. He questioned their presence in the Second Circuit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-28 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 14-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-40 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-26 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 6-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 18-24 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 18-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-46 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 6-8
Why it matters
This dispute defines when copyright winners recover legal costs. It shapes litigation strategy for publishers and individuals. It affects the financial risk of bringing weak claims. It influences how courts manage copyright enforcement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 28-1 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 28-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 46-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 24-12 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 24-12
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 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 18-30 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 18-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 40-44 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 40-44
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 48-50 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 48-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 30-32 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 30-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 14-28 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 14-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 19-21 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 19-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 14-40 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 14-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 8-26 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 8-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 36-40 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 36-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 6-14 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 6-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 18-24 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 18-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 46-46 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 46-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 6-8 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 6-8
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 24, lines 28-1 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 28-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 46-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 24-12 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 24-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 28-1 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 28-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 40, lines 46-12 — Transcript, file page 40, lines 46-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 24-12 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 24-12
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.