October Term 2016 · Docket 15-927
Does a patent statute bar the laches defense?
the sides that brought the case argue a six-year statute bars laches. the opposing sides claim laches remains a valid defense.
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
the sides that brought the case cite Petrella to support a fixed statutory limit.
the opposing sides cite the 1952 Act to preserve laches.
chief_justice_roberts_questioned_if_the_statute_clearly_bars_laches
justice_ginsburg_asked_why_waiting_to_sue_is_not_unscrupulous
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 46-14 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 46-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-50 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 36-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-52 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-52
- 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 24-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-12 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 48-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-14 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 46-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-16
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests whether a patent statute overrides the equitable defense of laches.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-50 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 36-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-52 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-52
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 1, 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
the sides that brought the case want the Court to bar the laches defense.
the opposing sides want the Court to allow the laches defense.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-50 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 36-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-52 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-52
What each side says
the sides that brought the case argue the statute sets a fixed time limit.
the opposing sides argue the statute preserves existing equitable defenses.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-50 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 36-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-52 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-52
What the justices asked
Chief Justice Roberts asked if the statute clearly bars laches.
Justice Ginsburg asked why waiting to sue is not unscrupulous.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 12-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 46-14 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 46-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-40
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 24-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-12 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 48-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-14 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 46-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-16
Why it matters
This dispute defines the time limit for patent infringement claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-50 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 36-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-52 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-52
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 12-38 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 12-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 46-14 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 46-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 20-40 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 20-40
- 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 24-16 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 24-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 4-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 4-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 20-26 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 20-26
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 34-38 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 34-38
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 42-4 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 42-4
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 48-12 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 48-12
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 16-18 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 16-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 46-14 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 46-14
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 4-16 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 4-16
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 25, lines 36-50 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 36-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-52 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 25, lines 36-50 — Transcript, file page 25, lines 36-50
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 28, lines 50-52 — Transcript, file page 28, lines 50-52
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 3, lines 20-52 — Transcript, file page 3, lines 20-52
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.