Google and Sonos remain in a patent fight.
CNET
Google on Thursday submitted a countersuit versus Sonos, declaring the cordless speaker business infringed on 5 of its patents when it concerns browse functions for music libraries, sound cancellation, cordless connection and more.
The problem follows a suit Sonos submitted in January, declaring the search huge took its innovation when the 2 business partnered to ensure Google’s music service worked well with Sonos speakers. The Santa Barbara, California-based business declared Google infringed on 5 patents, consisting of tech that lets individuals listen to audio in various spaces.
“Sonos is actively infringing Google’s intellectual property,” Google stated in the suit, which was submitted in a San Francisco federal court. “Sonos has no license to use Google’s patents. Because Sonos refuses to cease its infringement, and is unwilling to recognize the value of Google’s technology through a license, Google has filed this suit to protect its intellectual property.”
The dustup with Sonos comes as Google deals with extreme analysis from federal and state authorities over its size and competitive practices. The search giant is under antitrust examination by the United States Department of Justice, in addition to a union of state attorney generals of the United States, led by Texas AG Ken Paxton. Lawsuits from the groups, submitted either collectively or different, are anticipated within the next couple of months.
Sonos CEO Patrick Spence has actually been a singing critic of Big Tech. In January, he took objective at Google and other tech giants at a hearing for the House Antitrust Committee. In reaction to Google’s countersuit, he once again slammed the business’s size and stated it has “no shame.”
“Instead of simply addressing the merits of our case, and paying us what we’re owed, Google has chosen to use their size and breadth to try and find areas in which they can retaliate. We look forward to winning our original case, and this newly filed case as well,” Spence stated in a declaration. He compared Google’s “strong arm tactics” to those of the “robber barons of old.”
Google stated it “rarely” pursues business for patent violation, however felt obliged to do so versus Sonos.
“We are disappointed that Sonos has made false claims about our work together and technology,” Jose Castaneda, a Google spokesperson, stated in a declaration. “We are reluctantly defending ourselves by asserting our patent rights.”
