Life Technologies Corporation v. Promega Corporation
Holding
The supply of a single component of a multicomponent invention for manufacture abroad does not give rise to liability under Section 271(f)(1) of the Patent Act, which prohibits the supply from the United States of "all or a substantial portion of the components of a patented invention" for combination abroad.
Judgment
Reversed and remanded, 7-0, in an opinion by Sonia Sotomayor on Feb 22, 2017. Justices Thomas and Alito joined as to all but Part II-C. Justice Alito filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment, in which Justice Thomas joined. Chief Justice Roberts took no part in the decision of the case.
Apr 16, 2015Application (14A1075) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from May 27, 2015 to June 26, 2015, submitted to The Chief Justice.
Apr 22, 2015Application (14A1075) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until June 26, 2015.
Jun 26, 2015Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due July 29, 2015)
Jul 13, 2015Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for petitioners.
Jul 17, 2015Order extending time to file response to petition to and including August 26, 2015.
Jul 28, 2015Brief amicus curiae of Agilent Technologies, Inc. filed.
Jul 29, 2015Brief amicus curiae of Professor Timothy R. Holbrook filed.
Aug 26, 2015Brief of respondent Promega Corporation in opposition filed.Sep 8, 2015Reply of petitioners Life Technologies Corporation, et al. filed. (Distributed)Sep 9, 2015DISTRIBUTED for Conference of September 28, 2015.
Oct 5, 2015The Solicitor General is invited to file a brief in this case expressing the views of the United States.
May 11, 2016Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.
May 27, 2016Supplemental brief of petitioners Life Technologies Corporation, et al. filed.
May 31, 2016DISTRIBUTED for Conference of June 16, 2016.
May 31, 2016Supplemental brief of respondent Promega Corporation filed. (Distributed)Jun 20, 2016DISTRIBUTED for Conference of June 23, 2016.
Jun 27, 2016Petition GRANTED limited to Question 2 presented by the petition.
Jul 26, 2016The time to file the joint appendix and petitioners' brief on the merits is extended to and including September 1, 2016.
Jul 26, 2016The time to file respondent's brief on the merits is extended to and including October 24, 2016.
Aug 4, 2016Consent to the filing of amicus curiae briefs, in support of either party or of neither party, received from counsel for Life Technologies Corporation, Invitrogen IP Holdings, Inc., and Applied Biosystems, LLC.
Sep 1, 2016Joint appendix filed. (Statement of costs filed.)
Sep 1, 2016Brief of petitioners Life Technologies Corporation, et al. filed.
Sep 7, 2016Brief amicus curiae of Intellectual Property Owners Association in support of neither party filed.Sep 7, 2016Brief amicus curiae of Agilent Technologies, Inc. filed.
Sep 8, 2016Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.
Sep 8, 2016Brief amici curiae of Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V., et al. filed.
Sep 8, 2016Brief amicus curiae of American Intellectual Property Law Association in support of neither party filed.Sep 8, 2016Brief amici curiae of Intellectual Property Professors filed.
Oct 21, 2016SET FOR ARGUMENT on Tuesday, December 6, 2016.
Oct 24, 2016Brief of respondent Promega Corporation filed.
Oct 25, 2016Brief amicus curiae of New York Intellectual Property Law Association filed. (Distributed)Oct 26, 2016CIRCULATED.
Oct 31, 2016Brief amicus curiae of Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation filed. (Distributed)Nov 1, 2016Record requested from the U.S.C.A. Federal Circuit.
Nov 4, 2016Record received from the U.S.C.A. Federal Circuit is electronic and located on PACER. Also received are Confidential documents that are also electronic.
Nov 7, 2016Motion of the Acting Solicitor General out of time for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.
Nov 10, 2016Record received from the U.S.D.C. Western Dist. of Wisconsin is electronic.
Nov 22, 2016Motion of the Acting Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED. out of time
Nov 22, 2016Reply of petitioners Life Technologies Corporation, et al. filed. (Distributed)Dec 6, 2016Argued. For petitioners: Carter G. Phillips, Washington, D. C.; and Zachary D. Tripp, Assistant to the Solicitor General, Department of Justice, Washington, D. C. (for United States, as amicus curiae.) For respondents: Seth P. Waxman, Washington, D. C.
Jan 4, 2017Letter from Clerk of Court to counsel of record noting that the Chief Justice will not continue to participate in this case.
Feb 22, 2017Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Sotomayor, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, and Kagan, JJ., joined, and in which Thomas and Alito, JJ., joined as to all but Part II-C. Alito, J., filed an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment, in which Thomas, J., joined. Roberts, C. J., took no part in the decision of the case.
Mar 27, 2017JUDGMENT ISSUED.
Recommended Citation: Life Technologies Corporation v. Promega Corporation, SCOTUSblog, https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/life-technologies-corporation-v-promega-corporation/