October Term 2018 · Docket 17-571
Does filing a copyright application allow a lawsuit before the government acts?
Copyright holders dispute whether filing an application or receiving a government decision starts the clock for suing infringers.
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. Panner argued the phrase in Section 411(a) refers to the copyright owner's action.
Mr. Stris argued the Register must make a registration determination before an applicant can sue.
Chief Justice Roberts noted the second sentence of Section 411(a) discusses refused registration.
Justice Breyer compared the situation to hiring an unapproved plumber for home repairs.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-55 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-33
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The case tests the meaning of a specific phrase in the Copyright Act. One side argues the phrase refers to the owner's filing action. The other side argues it requires a government decision first.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 43-51
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on January 8, 2019.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-55 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-55
What each side wants
the side that brought the case wants the Court to rule that filing an application satisfies the legal requirement to sue.
the opposing side wants the Court to rule that a government decision is required before a lawsuit can begin.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 43-51
What each side says
the side that brought the case argues the statutory text links the phrase to the copyright owner's compliance with filing rules.
the opposing side argues the statutory text requires the Register of Copyrights to make a determination before suit.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 43-51
What the justices asked
Justice Breyer asked if driving with an expired license is like suing after filing an application.
Justice Sotomayor asked if a suit requires accepted registration before proceeding in court.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-55 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-33
Why it matters
This dispute defines when copyright owners can enforce their rights in federal court. It sets the procedural trigger for all future infringement litigation. The outcome shapes the balance between administrative processing and private legal remedies.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 43-51
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 10, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 17-21 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 17-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 15-17 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 15-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 21-23 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 21-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 27-31 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 27-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 25-33 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 25-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-23 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 5, lines 15-27 — Transcript, file page 5, lines 15-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 17-29 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 17-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 53-55 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 53-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 25-27 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 25-27
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 43-17 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 43-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 31-33 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 31-33
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 11-21 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 43-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 31, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 31, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 25-13 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 25-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 52, lines 37-23 — Transcript, file page 52, lines 37-23
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 64, lines 43-51 — Transcript, file page 64, lines 43-51
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.