October Term 2018 · Docket 17-1625
Does the Copyright Act allow full litigation costs or only a statutory list?
Rimini Street seeks full litigation costs. Oracle argues for a limited statutory list.
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. Clement argued the statute authorizes full costs.
Mr. Perry argued costs are a defined legal term.
Mr. Kedem argued the statutory list guides courts.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-23 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 45-51
- 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 23-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-55 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-31
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on the meaning of full costs in copyright law.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-23 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 11-15
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 14, 2019.
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 67, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-45
What each side wants
Rimini Street wants recovery of all litigation expenses.
Oracle wants costs limited to a specific statutory list.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-23 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 11-15
What each side says
Rimini Street argues the statute authorizes full costs.
Oracle argues costs are a defined legal term.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-23 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 11-15
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked about the historical meaning of costs.
Justice Breyer asked about state statute influences on awards.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 21-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 51-55 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-31
Why it matters
The outcome defines the financial risk for copyright litigants nationwide.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-23 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 11-15
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 21-25 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 31-41 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 31-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 14, lines 47-9 — Transcript, file page 14, lines 47-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 16, lines 21-27 — Transcript, file page 16, lines 21-27
- 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 51-55 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 51-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 29-45 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 29-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 49-9 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 49-9
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 39-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 39-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 41-43 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 41-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 39-43 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 39-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 11-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 11-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 25-31 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 25-31
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 35-23 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 21, lines 35-23 — Transcript, file page 21, lines 35-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 32, lines 45-51 — Transcript, file page 32, lines 45-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-49 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-49
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 65, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 65, lines 11-15
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.