October Term 2015 · Docket 15-446
Does the Patent Office use the broadest reasonable interpretation in inter partes review?
Cuozzo Speed Technologies argues the Patent Office misapplied claim construction rules. The government defends its current interpretation method.
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. Gannon argued the Patent Office reasonably uses its longstanding approach.
Mr. Beeney argued the broadest reasonable interpretation harms patent holders.
Justice Breyer asked whether the interpretation determines patentability directly.
Justice Alito asked if the Board must stick to its initial interpretation.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-22 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 8-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 8-24 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 8-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 4-26 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 4-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-8 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 28-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 50-14 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 50-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 16-30 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 16-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 32-36 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 32-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 30-38 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 30-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 46-8
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on how the Patent Trial and Appeal Board interprets patent claims during inter partes review. Cuozzo Speed Technologies seeks a standard aligned with district courts. The government defends the Board's existing approach.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-8 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 28-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 16-30 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 16-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 10-20
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 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-24
What each side wants
Cuozzo Speed Technologies wants the Court to mandate ordinary claim construction standards.
The government wants the Court to uphold the broadest reasonable interpretation standard.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-8 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 28-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 16-30 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 16-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 10-20
What each side says
Cuozoo Speed Technologies argues the broadest reasonable interpretation conflicts with congressional purpose.
The government argues the broadest reasonable interpretation fits the hybrid nature of the proceeding.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-8 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 28-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 16-30 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 16-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 10-20
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked about the second of four points.
Justice Sotomayor questioned whether congressional amendment rights support the side that brought the case's view.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-18 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-22 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 8-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 8-24 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 8-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 4-26 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 4-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 50-14 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 50-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 32-36 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 32-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 30-38 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 30-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 46-8
Why it matters
Patent holders face different interpretation standards in administrative and judicial forums. This inconsistency creates uncertainty in patent enforcement. The outcome shapes the balance between administrative efficiency and legal consistency.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-8 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 28-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 16-30 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 16-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 10-20
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 12-18 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 14-24 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 14-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 8-22 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 8-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 40-46 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 40-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 8-24 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 8-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 4-26 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 4-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-16 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 53, lines 50-14 — Transcript, file page 53, lines 50-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 32-36 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 32-36
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 42-46 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 42-46
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 10-18 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 10-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 55, lines 30-38 — Transcript, file page 55, lines 30-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 57, lines 22-24 — Transcript, file page 57, lines 22-24
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 48-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 46-8 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 46-8
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 26, lines 28-8 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 28-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 16-30 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 16-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 10-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 26, lines 28-8 — Transcript, file page 26, lines 28-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 18-20 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 18-20
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 54, lines 16-30 — Transcript, file page 54, lines 16-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 56, lines 10-20 — Transcript, file page 56, lines 10-20
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.