Supreme Court decisions affect ordinary Americans on matters from health care to housing, but rarely does a ruling make a material difference for people abroad. On Tuesday the high court will hear a case that represents an exception to the rule.

Impression Products Inc. v. Lexmark International is at bottom a case about price discrimination, the practice of charging higher prices to customers who likely can pay more and offering discounts to those who cannot. In many cases, the practice benefits less affluent consumers, who receive a discount to purchase products that they otherwise might not be able to afford. The Supreme Court’s decision will determine whether companies can continue to use patent laws to protect their interest when they set prices lower for consumers abroad.

Read more at The Wall Street Journal