Eli Lilly and Company v. Medtronic, Inc.
496 U.S. 661 · Decided June 18, 1990 · Supreme Court of the United States
Record summary. This page is generated from the Supreme Court Database’s coded data about the case. It describes who decided what, not the Court’s reasoning. Read the opinion itself before relying on it. Not legal advice.
At a glance
Eli Lilly and Company v. Medtronic, Inc. was decided on June 18, 1990 by a vote of 6–2. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice Antonin Scalia wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Patents” in the Economic Activity area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 496 U.S. 661 · 110 S. Ct. 2683 · 110 L. Ed. 2d 605 · 1990 U.S. LEXIS 3184
- Docket number
- 89-243
- Decided
- June 18, 1990
- Argued
- February 26, 1990
- Court era
- Rehnquist Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Affirmed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party did not receive a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 6–2
- Majority opinion
- Antonin Scalia
- Opinion assigned by
- William H. Rehnquist
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Patents
- Issue area
- Economic Activity
- Legal provision
- 35 U.S.C. § 271
- Type of law
- Infrequently litigated statute
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Liberal what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice Byron R. White | Dissent | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Majority | |
| Justice Harry A. Blackmun | Majority | |
| Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Majority | |
| Justice Antonin Scalia | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Anthony M. Kennedy | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
Did not participate: Sandra Day O'Connor.
Full case caption
Eli Lilly and Company v. Medtronic, Inc.
SCDB identifiers: case 1989-117, docket 1989-117-01.
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Cases on the same legal provision: 35 U.S.C. § 271
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- Microsoft Corporation v. AT&T Corp.
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Source: Supreme Court Database, 2026 Release 01 (data file dated September 8, 2026). Imported into CaseTrail November 5, 2026. Coverage: decisions from the 1946 through 2025 Terms. Methodology · Report an error