Google fined $32.5 million for infringing on Sonos patent

Google has simply been hit with a $32.5 million penalty for infringing on a patent held by Sonos. In keeping with Law360, a California federal jury ordered the positive after figuring out that Google infringed on a patent Sonos holds referring to grouping audio system to allow them to play audio on the similar time, one thing the corporate has been doing for years. 

US District Decide William Alsup had already decided that early model of merchandise just like the Chromecast Audio and Google Dwelling infringed on Sonos’ patent; the query was whether or not more moderen, revamped merchandise have been additionally infringing on the patent. The jury present in favor of Sonos, however determined a second patent — one which pertains to controlling units by way of a smartphone or different gadget — wasn’t violated. They mentioned that Sonos hadn’t convincingly proven that the Google Dwelling app infringed on that exact patent. This follows the dismissal of 4 different patent violations that Sonos initially sued over.

Google supplied Engadget with the next assertion: “It is a slim dispute about some very particular options that aren’t generally used. Of the six patents Sonos initially asserted, just one was discovered to be infringed, and the remainder have been dismissed as invalid or not infringed. We’ve all the time developed know-how independently and competed on the advantage of our concepts. We’re contemplating our subsequent steps.” 

At this time’s findings appears like a win for Sonos, who initially filed go well with towards Google all the way in which again in January of 2020. Particularly, Sonos claimed that Google gained information of the patent by means of prior collaboration between the 2 firms, again they collaborated to permit for integration between Sonos’s audio system and Google Play Music.

Since then, Google counter-sued Sonos, claiming that Sonos had in reality infringed its personal patents round sensible audio system. As with all good authorized battle, Sonos then expanded its personal lawsuit a couple of months later. Extra not too long ago, Google sued Sonos in 2022, saying that its new voice assistant infringed on seven patents referring to the Google Assistant. 

Whether or not right now’s determination will sluggish the authorized battle between the 2 firms stays to be seen, although we would count on the bickering to proceed full-throttle within the months to return. There are many fits on the market between the businesses that are not but resolved, and we would count on Google to enchantment this determination as properly. We have reached out to each Sonos and Google and can replace this story with something we hear.

Replace, Could twenty sixth 2023, 5:30PM ET: Added a press release from Google.