Life Technologies Corp. v. Promega Corp.

Life Technologies Corp. v. Promega Corp.
Argued December 6, 2016
Decided February 22, 2017
Full case nameLife Technologies Corporation, et al., Petitioners v. Promega Corporation
Docket no.14–1538
Citations580 U.S. 140 (more)
137 S. Ct. 734; 197 L. Ed. 2d 33; 121 U.S.P.Q.2d 1641
Case history
PriorPromega Corp. v. Life Techs. Corp., 773 F.3d 1338 (Fed. Cir. 2014); cert. granted, 136 S. Ct. 2505 (2016).
ProceduralOn writ of certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Holding
The sale of a single component of a patented invention in a foreign market does not give rise to liability under the Patent Act of 1952.
Court membership
Chief Justice
John Roberts
Associate Justices
Anthony Kennedy · Clarence Thomas
Ruth Bader Ginsburg · Stephen Breyer
Samuel Alito · Sonia Sotomayor
Elena Kagan
Case opinions
MajoritySotomayor, joined by Kennedy, Ginsburg, Breyer, Kagan; Thomas, Alito (all but Part II–C)
ConcurrenceAlito (in part), joined by Thomas
Roberts took no part in the consideration or decision of the case.
Laws applied
Patent Act of 1952, 35 U.S.C. § 271 et seq.

Life Technologies Corp. v. Promega Corp., 580 U.S. ___ (2017), was a case in which the United States Supreme Court clarified the application of the Patent Act of 1952 to the sale of components of patented inventions in foreign markets.[1] In an opinion written by Associate Justice Sonia Sotomayor, the Court held that the sale of a "single component" in a foreign market "does not constitute a substantial portion of the components that can give rise to liability under [the Patent Act of 1952]."[2] Justice Samuel Alito wrote an opinion concurring in part and concurring in the judgment, in which he was joined Justice Clarence Thomas.[3] Chief Justice John Roberts took no part in the decision of the case.[4]

See also

References

  1. ^ Life Technologies Corp. v. Promega Corp., No. 14-1538, 580 U.S. ___ (2017), slip. op. at 1.
  2. ^ Life Technologies Corp., slip op. at 1, 11 (citing 35 U.S.C. § 271(f)(1)).
  3. ^ Life Technologies Corp., slip op. at 1 (Alito, J., concurring in part and concurring in the judgment).
  4. ^ Life Technologies Corp., slip op. at 11.