The dispute stemmed from a 2005 satellite deal; Antrix cancelled it in 2011 citing India’s revised policy on S-band spectrum allocation.
The US Supreme Court said a $1.29 billion lawsuit against India's space company (Antrix) can happen in US courts.
1. They ruled Antrix doesn't need a special connection to the US for this case under sovereign immunity laws.
The lawsuit is about enforcing an old money decision won by a company called Devas against Antrix.
This reversed a lower US court that threw out the case because Antrix, owned by India's government, didn't have strong US ties.
1. Devas claims Antrix broke a deal where Antrix agreed to lease satellite space to them.
India's government canceled the satellite deal in 2011, saying it needed the airwaves for national security.
Devas then sued Antrix in international court for breaking the contract and won money.
The international court ordered Antrix to pay Devas $562.5 million back in 2015.
However, Indian courts later ruled the original deal was fraudulent and that Devas was a fake company.
1. Because of this fraud finding, Indian courts canceled the $562 million award, saying it was illegal.
Devas tried to get the award enforced in the US anyway, asking US courts to make Antrix pay.
1. A US district court agreed, but a higher appeals court disagreed, saying US courts lacked power over Antrix.
The Supreme Court didn't decide if Antrix should actually pay the money; it only said the case can proceed in US court.
1. Other arguments, like the Indian court canceling the award, will be considered by the lower court now.