Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/12pdf/11-697_d1o2.pdf
Page Number: 42

Cite as:  568 U. S. ____ (2013) 

1 

GINSBURG, J., dissenting 

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 

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No. 11–697 
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SUPAP KIRTSAENG, DBA BLUECHRISTINE99, 

PETITIONER v. JOHN WILEY & SONS, INC.
 

ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF 

APPEALS FOR THE SECOND CIRCUIT
 

[March 19, 2013]

 JUSTICE GINSBURG, with whom JUSTICE KENNEDY joins,
and with whom JUSTICE SCALIA joins except as to Parts III 
and V–B–1, dissenting. 

“In  the  interpretation  of  statutes,  the  function  of  the
courts is easily stated.  It is to construe the language so as 
to  give  effect  to  the  intent  of  Congress.”  United  States  v. 
American Trucking Assns., Inc., 310 U. S. 534, 542 (1940). 
Instead of adhering to the Legislature’s design, the Court 
today  adopts  an  interpretation  of  the  Copyright  Act  at
odds  with  Congress’  aim  to  protect  copyright  owners 
against the unauthorized importation of low-priced, foreign­
made copies of their copyrighted works.  The Court’s bold 
departure from Congress’ design is all the more stunning,
for  it  places  the  United  States  at  the  vanguard  of  the
movement  for  “international  exhaustion”  of  copyrights—a
movement  the  United  States  has  steadfastly  resisted  on
the world stage. 

To justify a holding that shrinks  to insignificance copy­
right  protection  against  the  unauthorized  importation  of
foreign-made copies, the Court identifies several “practical
problems.”  Ante,  at  24.  The  Court’s  parade  of  horribles, 
however,  is  largely  imaginary.  Congress’  objective  in
enacting  17  U. S. C.  §602(a)(1)’s  importation  prohibition 
can  be  honored  without  generating  the  absurd  conse­
quences  hypothesized  in  the  Court’s  opinion.    I  dissent