Google loses as it infringes the speaker-related patent of rival company Sonos, and it is cornered just before the import ban on Google products
In a lawsuit that Google infringed the patent of smart speaker maker Sonos, the
Microsoft Word - 337_1191_notice01062022sgl - 337_1191_notice01062022sgl.pdf
https://www.usitc.gov/system/files/secretary/fed_reg_notices/337/337_1191_notice01062022sgl.pdf
Google (GOOGL) Must Halt Some Device Imports in Sonos' (SONO) Trade Agency Win - Bloomberg
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-01-06/google-must-halt-some-device-imports-in-sonos-trade-agency-win
International Trade Commission sides with Sonos against Google - Protocol — The people, power and politics of tech
https://www.protocol.com/bulletins/google-violated-sonos-patents
Google Infringed on Sonos Speaker Technology, Trade Court Rules - The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/01/06/technology/google-sonos-patents.html
Smart speaker maker Sonos partnered with Google in 2013 to support Google Play Music in its products. At this time, Sonos shared its multi-room speaker technology with Google, but it seems that Google has used this technology without permission for products such as Chromecast Audio and Pixel. Sonos has repeatedly warned Google to stop using its technology without permission, but it has continued to be ignored, so it has finally decided to go to court.
Audio company sues Google that ``Google infringed patents on smart speakers''-GIGAZINE
Sonos' patent infringement lawsuits will be unfolded in the United States, Germany, Canada, France, the Netherlands, etc., and in May 2021, a German court finally decided to recognize Google's patent infringement.
Google loses to audio maker Sonos in smart speaker patent infringement lawsuit - GIGAZINE
After that, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) also made a preliminary judgment that Google infringed Sonos' patent, but the final judgment was made on January 6, 2022, and Google announced that Sonos was found to have infringed the patent of This could force Google to temporarily suspend imports of hardware products such as smart speakers, displays, streaming devices and the Pixel.
The five patents owned by Sonos were recognized as infringing Google's patents this time. 2 out of 5: 'Patent for synchronizing left and right audio playback to eliminate small differences that the ear interprets as echoes.' Other patents include 'a patent for pairing speakers to output stereo sound', 'a patent for adjusting the volume of a single or multiple speakers with a single controller', and 'a patent for easily connecting the system to home Wi-Fi'. I have. Three of the five patents will expire in 2024, one in 2025, and the other in 2027.
Sonos Chief Legal Officer Eddie Lazarus hailed the ruling as 'a very rare sweeping victory in patent litigation.' Subsequently, ``Google needs to degrade or partially eliminate product functionality in order to avoid the import ban imposed by the ITC. Google may sacrifice user experience to avoid import bans. There is a possibility,' he commented. He went on to say that in order to sell products without being bound by import bans, 'pay a fair royalty for infringing technology, as other companies do.' increase.
On the other hand, Google spokesperson José Castañeda said, ``Although I do not fully agree with this decision, I am grateful that the ITC approved the design changes proposed by Google. We do not expect this change to affect our ability to import or sell Google products.We seek further investigation into our patent infringement and defend ourselves against Sonos' frivolous claims regarding business partnerships and intellectual property. I intend to continue.' He claims that he has avoided the import ban on hardware products by modifying the software.
If you are dissatisfied with this ruling, Google can appeal to the Supreme Court of the United States.
Related Posts:
in Hardware, Posted by logu_ii