October Term 2018 · Docket 17-1229
Does a secret sale invalidate a patent?
Helsinn argues a secret sale does not trigger the on-sale bar. Teva argues any commercial sale triggers it.
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
Mr. Shanmugam argued Congress changed the prior art definition.
Mr. Jay argued the established meaning of on sale remains.
Mr. Stewart argued the transaction should not trigger the bar.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-18 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 30-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 26-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 26-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 36-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 36-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-12 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-12
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the scope of the patent on-sale bar. It asks if a secret sale counts as prior art.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 26-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 26-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-6
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on December 4, 2018.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-15
What each side wants
Helsinn wants the sale to not count as prior art.
Teva wants the sale to count as prior art.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 26-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 26-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-6
What each side says
Helsinn argues the on-sale bar requires public disclosure.
Teva argues any commercial sale triggers the bar.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 26-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 26-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-6
What the justices asked
Justice Kavanaugh asked why a sold item is not on sale.
Justice Breyer asked if secret practice counts as on sale.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 15-18 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 30-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 36-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 36-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-12 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-12
Why it matters
The outcome defines the scope of patent protection. It affects how companies manage pre-patent sales.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 26-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 26-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-6
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 15-18 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 15-18
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 30-31 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 30-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 34-11 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 34-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 12-16 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 12-16
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 8-15 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 8-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 12-17 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 12-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 36-7 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 36-7
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 7-10 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 7-10
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 23-27 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 23-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 22-34 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 22-34
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 21-22 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 21-22
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 28-30 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 28-30
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 36-12 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 36-12
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 21, lines 26-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 26-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-6
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 26-33 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 26-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 22-8 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 22-8
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 16-6 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 16-6
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.