October Term 2017 · Docket 16-969
Can the Patent Board decide only some patent claims in a review?
SAS Institute argues the Board must decide every challenged claim. The government says it may decide only some.
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. Castanias argued the statute requires full decisions.
Mr. Bond argued the Board has discretion to decide partially.
questions_asked_by_justices
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-11
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
SAS Institute seeks a full decision on all claims. The government defends partial decisions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-51
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 27, 2017.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 25-27
What each side wants
SAS Institute wants the Board to decide every challenged claim.
The government wants the Board to keep deciding only some claims.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-51
What each side says
SAS Institute argues the statute requires decisions on all claims.
The government argues the Board may issue partial decisions.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-51
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked what SAS Institute specifically challenges.
Justice Ginsburg asked about the statutory text on institution.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-11
Why it matters
This case defines the scope of patent reviews. It affects how patent owners defend their rights. It shapes the power of the Patent Board.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-51
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 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 53-11 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 53-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 53-9 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 53-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 15-23 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 15-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-35 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-1 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 23-35 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 23-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 51-11 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 51-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 7-9 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 7-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-11 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 41-45 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 41-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 37-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 37-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 55-11 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 55-11
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 31, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-51 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 31-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 31-51
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.