WesternGeco LLC v. ION Geophysical Corp.
Docket No.16-1011
Holding
The focus of the Patent Act's general damages provision, 35 U.S.C. 284, in a case involving infringement under Section 271(f)(2) is on the act of exporting components from the United States; therefore, WesternGeco's award for lost profits was a permissible domestic application of Section 284, not an impermissible extraterritorial one.
Judgment
Reversed and remanded, 7-2, in an opinion by Clarence Thomas on Jun 22, 2018. Justice Gorsuch filed a dissenting opinion, in which Justice Breyer joined.
Dec 8, 2016Application (16A576) to extend the time to file a petition for a writ of certiorari from December 20, 2016 to February 17, 2017, submitted to The Chief Justice.
Dec 13, 2016Application (16A576) granted by The Chief Justice extending the time to file until February 17, 2017.
Feb 17, 2017Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due March 20, 2017)
Mar 8, 2017Order extending time to file response to petition to and including April 19, 2017.
Apr 19, 2017Brief of respondent ION Geophysical Corporation in opposition filed.
May 8, 2017Reply of petitioner WesternGeco LLC filed.
May 9, 2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of May 25, 2017.
May 30, 2017The Acting Solicitor General is invited to file a brief in this case expressing the views of the United States. Justice Alito took no part in the consideration or decision of this petition.
Dec 6, 2017Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.Dec 20, 2017DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/5/2018.
Dec 20, 2017Supplemental brief of respondent ION Geophysical Corp. filed. (Distributed)Jan 8, 2018DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/12/2018.
Jan 12, 2018Petition GRANTED. Justice Alito took no part in the consideration or decision of this petition.
Jan 25, 2018Letter of amendment to corporate disclosure statement from respondent ION Geophysical Corp. filed. (Distributed)Feb 1, 2018Blanket Consent filed by Respondent, ION Geophysical Corporation.Feb 2, 2018Blanket Consent filed by Petitioner, WesternGeco LLC.Feb 23, 2018SET FOR ARGUMENT on Monday, April 16, 2018.
Feb 23, 2018Brief of petitioner WesternGeco LLC filed.Feb 23, 2018Joint appendix filed.Feb 27, 2018Brief amicus curiae of New York Intellectual Property Law Association in support of neither party filed.Mar 1, 2018Brief amicus curiae of Law Professor Stephen Yelderman filed. (Distributed)Mar 2, 2018Brief amicus curiae of United States filed.Mar 2, 2018Brief amicus curiae of Power Integrations, Inc. filed.Mar 2, 2018Brief amici curiae of Intellectual Property Law Scholars in support of neither party filed. (Distributed)Mar 2, 2018Brief amicus curiae of Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago filed. (Distributed)Mar 2, 2018Brief amicus curiae of Houston Intellectual Property Law Association in Support of Neither Party filed. (Distributed)Mar 5, 2018Brief amicus curiae of Intellectual Property Owners Association filed in Support of Neither Party. (Distributed)Mar 5, 2018Brief amicus curiae of American Intellectual Property Law Association filed in Support of Neither Party. (Distributed)Mar 7, 2018CIRCULATED
Mar 9, 2018Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument filed.Mar 26, 2018Brief of respondent ION Geophysical Corporation filed. (Distributed)Mar 28, 2018Justice Alito is no longer recused in this case.
Mar 30, 2018Record requested from U.S.C.A. Federal Circuit.
Apr 2, 2018Brief amici curiae of Fairchild Semiconductor International, Inc., The Internet Association, SAS Institute Inc., Symmetry, LLC, and Xilinx, Inc. filed. (Distributed)Apr 2, 2018Brief amici curiae of Electronic Frontier Foundation and R Street Institute filed. (Distributed)Apr 6, 2018Record received from the U.S.D.C. Southern District of Texas Brownsville Division is electronic and can be accessed through the electronic case filing system for the Southern District of Texas. Sealed documents was sent to this Court, the record is electronic.
Apr 6, 2018Record from the U.S.C.A. Federal Circuit is electronic and located on PACER, with the exception of 1 Box of Confidential material.
Apr 9, 2018Reply of petitioner WesternGeco LLC filed. (Distributed)Apr 13, 2018Motion of the Solicitor General for leave to participate in oral argument as amicus curiae and for divided argument GRANTED.
Apr 16, 2018Argued. For petitioner: Paul D. Clement, 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 respondent: Kannon K. Shanmugam, Washington, D. C.
Jun 22, 2018Judgment REVERSED and case REMANDED. Thomas, J., delivered the opinion of the Court, in which Roberts, C. J., and Kennedy, Ginsburg, Alito, Sotomayor, and Kagan, JJ., joined. Gorsuch, J., filed a dissenting opinion, in which Breyer, J., joined.
Jul 24, 2018JUDGMENT ISSUED.
Aug 21, 2018Record for the U.S.C.A. Federal Circuit has been returned.
Recommended Citation: WesternGeco LLC v. ION Geophysical Corp., SCOTUSblog, https://www.scotusblog.com/cases/westerngeco-llc-v-ion-geophysical-corp-2-2/