October Term 2020 · Docket 20-440
Can a patent seller challenge the validity of the patent they sold?
Minerva Surgical argues the Federal Circuit wrongly bars sellers from challenging patents. Hologic argues the law requires sellers to stand by their prior representations.
Verified source milestones
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official oral-argument transcript was verified.
- — An official Court opinion 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
Minerva argues the Federal Circuit test is too broad.
Hologic argues the doctrine has long-standing precedent.
Justice Breyer noted many briefs suggest limiting, not abolishing, the doctrine.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 55-31 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 55-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 29-31
- 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 23-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 55-53 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 55-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 55-25 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 55-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 41-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-45
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
This case tests the scope of assignor estoppel. Minerva wants to invalidate a patent it sold. Hologic wants to keep that patent enforceable against its former owner.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 55-53 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 55-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 43-45
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on April 21, 2021.
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 66, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-45
What each side wants
Minerva wants to invalidate the patent it sold.
Hologic wants to enforce the patent against Minerva.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 55-53 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 55-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 43-45
What each side says
Minerva argues the Patent Act does not create assignor estoppel.
Hologic argues Congress intended assignor estoppel in 1924.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 55-53 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 55-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 43-45
What the justices asked
Justice Sotomayor asked if the issue is now validity rather than claim construction.
Justice Alito asked if parties can contract around assignor estoppel.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 49-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 55-31 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 55-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 55-25 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 55-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 41-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-45
Why it matters
This dispute defines who can challenge patent validity. It affects the stability of patent markets. It determines the rights of former patent owners.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 55-53 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 55-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 43-45
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 49-13 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 49-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 19-41 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 19-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 13, lines 49-51 — Transcript, file page 13, lines 49-51
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 15, lines 55-31 — Transcript, file page 15, lines 55-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 17, lines 7-11 — Transcript, file page 17, lines 7-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 18, lines 9-19 — Transcript, file page 18, lines 9-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 11-17 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 11-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 19, lines 43-43 — Transcript, file page 19, lines 43-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 11-21 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 11-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 6, lines 39-11 — Transcript, file page 6, lines 39-11
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 67, lines 37-45 — Transcript, file page 67, lines 37-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 68, lines 33-45 — Transcript, file page 68, lines 33-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 25-37 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 25-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 11-15 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 11-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 72, lines 19-53 — Transcript, file page 72, lines 19-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 35-45 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 35-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 51-25 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 51-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 55-25 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 55-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 41-55 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 41-55
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 51-53 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 51-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 79, lines 13-17 — Transcript, file page 79, lines 13-17
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 8, lines 23-31 — Transcript, file page 8, lines 23-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 27-45 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 27-45
Official Court provenance
Official docket and case history · Official Supreme Court oral-argument detail page
Verified official opinions and orders
Title and summary sources
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 55-53 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 55-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 39, lines 29-31 — Transcript, file page 39, lines 29-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-37 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 61, lines 55-53 — Transcript, file page 61, lines 55-53
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 47-35 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 47-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 88, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 88, lines 43-45
Revision history
- Revision 1 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Rewritten to the concise citizen-facing editorial standard.
- Revision 2 · Post Opinion ·
Correction: Migrated to the dated official Court activity contract without model use.