In a terse opinion that will alter the landscape  literally  of patent infringement litigation, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday ruled that such lawsuits must be brought in the state where the defendant company is incorporated.

Justice Clarence Thomas, writing for an 8-0 court in TC Heartland v. Kraft Foods Group Brands, said “a domestic corporation ‘resides’ only in its state of incorporation for purposes of the patent venue statute.” Justice Neil Gorsuch did not participate in the decision.