Opinion Analysis: A “Substantial Portion of the Components” Means “More Than One Component”
Some Supreme Court cases have intricate facts, complex legal arguments, numerous nuances and important implications for future cases. Life Technologies v. Promega isn’t like that. Instead, this case presented the court with a single discrete issue: whether the statutory phrase “all or a substantial portion of the components of a patented invention” in one subsection of the Patent Act (35 U.C.C. § 271(f)(1)) can refer to a single component of a multicomponent invention.
The Supreme Court answered that question unequivocally “no.” In other words, if you’ve read and understood the title of this post (A “substantial portion of the components” means “more than one component”), then congratulations! You’ve mastered almost everything that’s worth remembering about this case.
Well, almost everything. Perhaps there are a few more things worth remembering.