October Term 2016 · Docket 14-1538
Does supplying one component abroad infringe a U.S. patent?
Life Technologies and Promega dispute whether exporting a single part violates U.S. patent law.
Verified source milestones
- — 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
Carter Phillips argued the case involves international trade context.
Phillips compared the facts to the passage of Section 271(f).
Justice Sotomayor asked if the product is available outside the U.S.
Justice Ginsburg asked why a specific component was exported from the U.S.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-14 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 28-1 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 28-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-4 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-4
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of U.S. patent law abroad. It asks if supplying one component overseas counts as infringement.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-14 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 28-1 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 28-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 6, 2016.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 8-18 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 8-18
What each side wants
Life Technologies wants the Court to rule that supplying one component abroad does not infringe a U.S. patent.
Promega wants the Court to rule that supplying one component abroad does infringe a U.S. patent.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-14 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 28-1 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 28-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
What each side says
Life Technologies argues that U.S. patent law does not reach the supply of a single component abroad.
Promega argues that U.S. patent law covers the supply of a single component abroad.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-14 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 28-1 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 28-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked if all five components must be made in the United States.
Justice Alito asked if a substantial portion means a majority of components.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-4 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-4
Why it matters
This case defines the reach of U.S. patent law. It determines whether companies can supply parts abroad without liability. It affects global trade and innovation incentives.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-14 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 28-1 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 28-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
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 5, lines 10-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 10-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 38-42 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 38-42
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 50-4 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 50-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 28-32 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 28-32
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 26-28 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 26-28
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 38-40 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 38-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 44-48 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 44-48
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 14-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 14-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-4 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-4
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 18, lines 42-14 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 28-1 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 28-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 42-14 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 42-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 29, lines 28-1 — Transcript, file page 29, lines 28-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-8 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-8
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.