October Term 2021 · Docket 20-915
Does copyright fraud require subjective awareness of inaccuracy?
Unicolors argues the law requires subjective awareness of errors. H&M argues objective negligence suffices to void registration.
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
Mr. Rosenkranz argued the statute requires subjective awareness of inaccuracy.
Mr. Stris argued the registration certificate confers litigation privileges.
Mr. Rosenkranz argued the statute is clear and not ambiguous.
Read the official transcript for this argument · Official argument details
Sources used for this argument breakdown
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 51-43 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 51-43
- 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 23-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 53-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 35-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-19
A citizen's guide to the whole case
What this case is about
The dispute centers on the mental state required to prove copyright fraud. Unicolors seeks to preserve its registration despite alleged errors. H&M seeks to invalidate the registration based on those errors.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 51-43 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 51-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 35-31
How the case got here
The Supreme Court heard oral argument in this case on November 8, 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 81, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 13-15
What each side wants
Unicolors wants the Court to require proof of subjective awareness of inaccuracy.
H&M wants the Court to allow objective negligence to void the registration.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 51-43 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 51-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 35-31
What each side says
Unicolors argues the statute requires subjective awareness of the specific inaccuracy.
H&M argues the statute allows invalidation based on objective inaccuracies.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 51-43 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 51-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 35-31
What the justices asked
Justice Alito asked where the actual application resides in the record.
Justice Alito asked if showing designs to a person constitutes publication.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 27-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 53-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-19
Why it matters
This case defines the standard for proving copyright fraud. It determines how easily registrations can be voided. It affects the stability of copyright litigation privileges. It impacts access to statutory damages and attorneys' fees.
Official sources for this section
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 51-43 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 51-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 35-31
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 27-29 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 27-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 33-35 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 33-35
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 10, lines 53-15 — Transcript, file page 10, lines 53-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 29-43 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 29-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 11, lines 55-1 — Transcript, file page 11, lines 55-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 11-13 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 11-13
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 17-19 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 17-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 33-37 — Transcript, file page 12, lines 33-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 12, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 12, 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 66, lines 15-25 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 15-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 69, lines 7-21 — Transcript, file page 69, lines 7-21
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 45-47 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 45-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 7, lines 53-19 — Transcript, file page 7, lines 53-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 47-29 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 47-29
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 70, lines 7-19 — Transcript, file page 70, lines 7-19
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 33-39 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 33-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 71, lines 47-47 — Transcript, file page 71, lines 47-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 73, lines 29-39 — Transcript, file page 73, lines 29-39
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 74, lines 21-25 — Transcript, file page 74, lines 21-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 75, lines 19-25 — Transcript, file page 75, lines 19-25
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 76, lines 35-41 — Transcript, file page 76, lines 35-41
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 35-37 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 35-37
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 77, lines 43-47 — Transcript, file page 77, lines 43-47
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 81, lines 13-15 — Transcript, file page 81, lines 13-15
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 9, lines 47-19 — Transcript, file page 9, lines 47-19
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 24, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 51-43 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 51-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 35-31
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 24, lines 43-45 — Transcript, file page 24, lines 43-45
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 38, lines 51-43 — Transcript, file page 38, lines 51-43
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 4, lines 23-1 — Transcript, file page 4, lines 23-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 66, lines 27-1 — Transcript, file page 66, lines 27-1
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 11-33 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 11-33
- Official Supreme Court Transcript — file page 78, lines 35-31 — Transcript, file page 78, lines 35-31
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.