Google sues Sonos for misuse of voice management patents


Sonos patents Google

Google has sued Sonos in two lawsuits for abusing seven patents in its sensible audio system. The patents primarily concern the voice management of (sensible) audio system.

Google’s lawsuit is a continuation of the years-long battle between the search big and Sonos. Sonos determined to sue Google in 2020 for utilizing its multi-room expertise. Since then, the 2 have been combating forwards and backwards and Google was as soon as obliged to take away functionalities from its Dwelling audio system. The storm has not but handed; based on The Verge Google has now introduced the following a part of the cleaning soap. This exposes the alleged abuse of seven patents by the speaker producer.

Patents for sensible audio system

Google says it’s going to take Sonos to court docket in two separate instances. The primary case issues the way in which during which sensible audio system detect hotwords and the way wi-fi charging works. The second case discusses how sensible audio system with assistants decide which speaker should reply to questions. Google spokesman José Castaneda says lawsuits are wanted to “defend its expertise and problem Sonos’ clear, ongoing infringement of our patents.”

Castaneda additionally says that it doesn’t cease on the two lawsuits. The corporate plans to file an import ban on Sonos merchandise that abuse its patents with the Worldwide Commerce Fee within the US. Such an import ban would imply that Sonos will not be allowed to promote such merchandise on the American market. Europe, Asia and Australia are spared; any consequence of the authorized course of between Google and Sonos may also solely affect US Sonos gross sales.

Loss to Google

The patent battle between the 2 events started in 2020, after an in depth partnership was established to carry the Google Assistant to Sonos audio system. Within the meantime, Google is claimed to have began abusing its patents earlier than Sonos. In early 2022, Google known as again by the Worldwide Commerce Fee, two years after the beginning of the trial. The ITC discovered conclusive proof that Google had made use of Sonos’ patents. The search big was sentenced to an import ban except it might alter its software program in time.

After Sonos sued Google, Google retaliated with its personal lawsuit over using networking, DRM, and personalization patents, amongst others. Sonos returned with a lawsuit of its personal three months after Google’s try and cease Sonos’ abuse. This time, amongst different issues, in regards to the operation of ‘sensible audio system’. Lots of the instances are nonetheless ready for a closing consequence.

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