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BONITO BOATS, INC. v. THUNDER CRAFT BOATS, INC.

No. 87-1346.

489 U.S. 141 (1989)

109 S.Ct. 971

103 L.Ed.2d 118

BONITO BOATS, INC. v. THUNDER CRAFT BOATS, INC.

Supreme Court of United States.

Decided February 21, 1989

Attorney(s) appearing for the Case

Tomas Morgan Russell argued the cause for petitioner. With him on the briefs were Granger Cook, Jr., and John S. Schoene.

Charles E. Lipsey, by appointment of the Court, 487 U.S. 1231, argued the cause as amicus curiae in support of the judgment below. With him on the brief was Donald R. Dunner.*

Briefs of amici curiae urging affirmance were filed for the Aftermarket Body Parts Association et al. by James F. Fitzpatrick, Melvin C. Garbow, and Peter T. Grossi, Jr.; for the Certified Automobile Parts Association by Messrs. Garbow and Fitzpatrick; and for Xenetics Biomedical, Inc., by Edward S. Irons.

Alex Devience, Jr., filed a brief for Imos Italia and Torino Industries, Ltd., as amicus curiae.

JUSTICE O'CONNOR delivered the opinion of the Court.

We must decide today what limits the operation of the federal patent system places on the States' ability to offer substantial protection to utilitarian and design ideas which the patent laws leave otherwise unprotected. In Interpart Corp. v. Italia, 777 F.2d 678 (1985), the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit...

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