J. E. M. Ag Supply, Inc. v. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
534 U.S. 124 · Decided December 10, 2001 · Supreme Court of the United States
At a glance
J. E. M. Ag Supply, Inc. v. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. was decided on December 10, 2001 by a vote of 6–2. The Court affirmed the lower court's decision. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Patents” in the Economic Activity area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 534 U.S. 124 · 122 S. Ct. 593 · 151 L. Ed. 2d 508 · 2001 U.S. LEXIS 10949
- Docket number
- 99-1996
- Decided
- December 10, 2001
- Argued
- October 3, 2001
- 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
- Clarence Thomas
- Opinion assigned by
- William H. Rehnquist
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Patents
- Issue area
- Economic Activity
- Legal provision
- 35 U.S.C. § 101
- Type of law
- Infrequently litigated statute
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Conservative what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist | Majority | |
| Justice John Paul Stevens | Dissent | |
| Justice Antonin Scalia | Concurrence | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Anthony M. Kennedy | Majority | |
| Justice David H. Souter | Majority | |
| Justice Clarence Thomas | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg | Majority | |
| Justice Stephen G. Breyer | Dissent | Wrote an opinion |
Did not participate: Sandra Day O'Connor.
Full case caption
J. E. M. Ag Supply, Inc., Dba Farm Advantage, Inc., et al. v. Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc.
SCDB identifiers: case 2001-008, docket 2001-008-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Patents”
- Festo Corporation v. Shoketsu Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Co., Ltd.
- Wayne K. Pfaff v. Wells Electronics, Inc.
- Merck Kgaa v. Integra Lifesciences I, Ltd.
- Warner-Jenkinson Company, Inc. v. Hilton Davis Chemical Co.
- KSR International Co. v. Teleflex Inc.
- Asgrow Seed Company v. Denny Winterboer and Becky Winterboer
Cases on the same legal provision: 35 U.S.C. § 101
Same Term, same area (Economic Activity)
- TRW Inc. v. Adelaide Andrews
- Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company v. Janette Knudson and Eric Knudson
- Jo Anne B. Barnhart v. Sigmon Coal Company, Inc.
- Cornelius P. Young v. United States
- Verizon Communications Inc. v. Federal Communications Commission
- Mathias v. Worldcom Techs.
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