Anderson's-Black Rock, Inc. v. Pavement Salvage Co., Inc.
396 U.S. 57 · Decided December 8, 1969 · 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
Anderson's-Black Rock, Inc. v. Pavement Salvage Co., Inc. was decided on December 8, 1969 unanimously (7–0). The Court reversed the lower court's decision. Justice William O. Douglas wrote the opinion of the Court. SCDB classifies its main issue as “Patents” in the Economic Activity area.
Read the opinion
Case details
- Citations
- 396 U.S. 57 · 90 S. Ct. 305 · 24 L. Ed. 2d 258 · 1969 U.S. LEXIS 3322
- Docket number
- 45
- Decided
- December 8, 1969
- Argued
- November 10, 1969
- Court era
- Burger Court
- Decision type
- Opinion of the Court (orally argued)
- Disposition
- Reversed
- Outcome for petitioner
- The petitioning party received a favorable disposition
- Vote
- 7–0 (unanimous)
- Majority opinion
- William O. Douglas
- Opinion assigned by
- Hugo L. Black
- How the case arrived
- Certiorari
- Issue (SCDB)
- Patents
- Issue area
- Economic Activity
- Legal provision
- 35 U.S.C. § 103
- Type of law
- Infrequently litigated statute
- Decision direction (SCDB)
- Liberal what this means
How the Justices voted
| Justice | Vote | Separate writing |
|---|---|---|
| Justice Hugo L. Black | Majority | |
| Justice William O. Douglas | Majority | Wrote an opinion |
| Justice John M. Harlan II | Majority | |
| Justice William J. Brennan Jr. | Majority | |
| Justice Potter Stewart | Majority | |
| Justice Byron R. White | Majority | |
| Justice Thurgood Marshall | Majority |
Did not participate: Warren E. Burger.
Full case caption
Anderson's-Black Rock, Inc. v. Pavement Salvage Co., Inc.
SCDB identifiers: case 1969-006, docket 1969-006-01.
Related decisions
Other cases on “Patents”
- Standard Industries, Inc. v. Tigrett Industries, Inc.
- Lear, Inc. v. AdkinsAltered precedent
- Zenith Radio Corp. v. Hazeltine Research, Inc.
- Blonder-Tongue Laboratories, Inc. v. University of Illinois FoundationAltered precedent
- Deepsouth Packing Co., Inc. v. Laitram Corp.
- Brunette Machine Works, Ltd. v. Kockum Industries, Inc.
Cases on the same legal provision: 35 U.S.C. § 103
Same Term, same area (Economic Activity)
- Simpson v. Union Oil Co. of California
- Zuber v. Allen
- Nacirema Operating Co., Inc. v. Johnson
- United States v. Interstate Commerce Commission
- Pike v. Bruce Church, Inc.Law held unconstitutional
- United States v. Seckinger
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