Sonos wins Google import ban ruling in patent fight over smart speakers

A US commerce courtroom barred Google late Thursday from importing merchandise that infringe home-audio firm Sonos’ smart-speaker patents.

The U.S. Worldwide Commerce Fee affirmed an August choice that Google audio merchandise infringed 5 Sonos patents and banned Google from importing “networked speaker gadgets” and gadgets that may management them like cell phones and laptops.

The ruling says Google received’t be barred from importing merchandise that it had redesigned to keep away from infringing the patents.

A Google spokesperson mentioned it doesn't count on the choice to have an effect on its capability to import or promote its merchandise.

“We are going to search additional evaluation and proceed to defend ourselves in opposition to Sonos’ frivolous claims about our partnership and mental property,” the corporate mentioned.

Sonos’ Chief Authorized Officer Eddie Lazarus known as the ruling an “across-the-board” win and mentioned Google’s merchandise nonetheless infringe the patents regardless of its makes an attempt to design round them.

close-up of a box for Google Home Mini smart speaker
The US Worldwide Commerce Fee upheld a choice over the summer time that Google audio merchandise infringed 5 Sonos patents.
Gado by way of Getty Photographs

Sonos’ inventory was up 1.5% in late morning buying and selling Friday, having earlier risen greater than 3%.

The events have been embroiled in a world patent battle over multi-room audio expertise since 2020 that features courtroom instances in California, Canada, France, Germany and the Netherlands, in line with a Sonos regulatory submitting.

Sonos first sued Google in Los Angeles, alleging the corporate misused its expertise in “greater than a dozen completely different infringing merchandise,” together with Google Dwelling audio system and Pixel telephones, tablets, and laptops.

A person takes a picture of a Google Pixel phone during a product release event
Sonos had been attempting to dam Google from importing Pixel telephones and different merchandise from China.
Getty Photographs

Google responded with its personal lawsuit in San Francisco, alleging Sonos used “substantial volumes” of its expertise with out permission for a number of merchandise, together with controller apps and its Sonos Radio service.

On the ITC, Sonos had been attempting to dam Google from importing Dwelling audio system, Pixel telephones and different merchandise from China.

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