Sonos sues Google, alleging it stole its wireless speaker technology

mood · Jan 7, 2020

Sonos sues Google, alleging it stole its wireless speaker technology
January 7, 2020
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/01/07/sonos-sues-google-for-stealing-its-wireless-speaker-technology.html

Sonos sued Google Tuesday for patent infringement, saying Google used technology developed by Sonos that allows smart speakers to wirelessly play music in different rooms.

“Google is an important partner with whom we have collaborated successfully for years, including bringing the Google Assistant to the Sonos platform last year,” Sonos told CNBC. “However, Google has been blatantly and knowingly copying our patented technology in creating its audio products. [...]”
The lawsuit, which was filed Tuesday in Los Angeles, says Google gained knowledge of Sonos technology when the two companies worked together to bring Google’s streaming music service to Sonos speakers in 2013.

The lawsuit says that Google didn’t just copy Sonos tech but that it also “subsidized the prices of its patent infringing products.” Sonos speakers typically cost hundreds of dollars. Google’s more affordable smart speakers cost as little as $35.
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“Over the years, we have had numerous ongoing conversations with Sonos about both companies’ IP rights and we are disappointed that Sonos brought these lawsuits instead of continuing negotiations in good faith,” a Google spokesperson told CNBC in an emailed statement. “We dispute these claims and will defend them vigorously.”
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The New York Times: Sonos, Squeezed by the Tech Giants, Sues Google

mood · Jan 8, 2020

Amazon’s hardware boss responds to Sonos accusations of stolen technology
VP Dave Limp sticks to a friendly tone and says Sonos should focus on competing
January 8, 2020
https://www.theverge.com/2020/1/8/21056851/amazon-dave-limp-interview-sonos-google-response

Yesterday morning, The New York Times broke the news that Sonos is suing Google. Under the belief that Google stole its technology and has slowly been trying to “squeeze” Sonos’ business with its own lineup of less expensive smart speakers, the Times reported that Sonos CEO “couldn’t take it anymore” and made the call to square off against Google in court.

But Sonos made similar claims against Amazon in the same Times article — despite not including the company in the lawsuit. Litigating against two tech giants could stretch Sonos too thin, the company’s executives said, so they’re focused only on the battle with Google at the moment.
All of the same accusations were lobbed at Amazon, however.

The very public criticisms from Sonos have put Amazon in an awkward spot. For now, this is not the company’s fight. But Amazon will inevitably be next in line if Sonos finds success against Google, so it’s already defending itself against the idea that its Echo hardware infringes on Sonos’ intellectual property.
Last night at an Amazon media gathering, I spoke to Limp about this new crack in the company’s relationship with Sonos. [...]
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ronjor · Feb 6, 2020

Google faces yet another government investigation after Sonos complaint

Lauren Feiner@lauren_feiner Feb 6 2020
The U.S. International Trade Commission said it will investigate allegations that Google imported and sold patent-infringing goods after Sonos complained.
Sonos has filed suit against Google over alleged patent infringement and testified in front of the House Antitrust Subcommittee last month about Google’s competitive practices.
Google and its parent company Alphabet already face an antitrust probe opened by a large group of state attorneys general, and the Department of Justice and the House Antitrust Subcommittee are both looking at its competitive practices.
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mood · Jun 11, 2020

Google countersues Sonos for patent infringement
June 11, 2020
https://www.theverge.com/2020/6/11/21288161/google-countersues-sonos-patents-infringement

Google has countersued Sonos for patent infringement, following Sonos originally filing a patent lawsuit against Google in January. The lawsuit alleges that Sonos is infringing five Google patents covering mesh networking, echo cancellation, DRM, content notifications, and personalized search.

Google’s suit seems to serve a few purposes. One is obviously to countersue Sonos with its own patents. Another is for Google to show how it has been aggrieved after what it sees as helpful support for Sonos’ product development efforts.

“While Google rarely sues other companies for patent infringement, it must assert its intellectual property rights here,” the company says in its lawsuit.
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“We are disappointed that Sonos has made false claims about our work together and technology,” Jose Castaneda, a Google spokesperson, said in a statement to The Verge. “We are reluctantly defending ourselves by asserting our patent rights. While we look to resolve our dispute, we will continue to ensure our shared customers have the best experience using our products.”
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mood · Sep 29, 2020

[Update 2: New Lawsuit] Sonos is suing Google for allegedly stealing patented speaker technology
September 29, 2020
https://www.xda-developers.com/sonos-suing-google-smart-speaker-patents/

Update 2 (09/29/2020 @ 2:21 PM ET): Sonos has filed a new patent lawsuit against Google, alleging the company is violating five of its wireless audio patents.
Update 1 (6/11/20 @ 5:00 PM ET): Google is countersuing Sonos for alleged patent infringement. Scroll to the bottom for more information. The original article, as published on January 7, 2020, is preserved below.
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Update 2: Sonos files another patent lawsuit
Google is set to announce a new Chromecast and Nest smart speaker tomorrow, and Sonos is not happy about that. The maker of home audio gear has filed another patent lawsuit against Google (via The Verge), alleging the company’s entire line of Chromecast and Nest products violates five of Sonos’ wireless audio patents:

“We think it’s important to show the depth and breadth of Google’s copying,” Eddie Lazarus, Sonos’ chief legal officer, said in a statement. “We showed them claim charts on 100 patents that we claimed they were infringing, all to no avail.”
In response, Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda says that “Sonos has made misleading statements about our history of working together.”
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Sonos sues Google, alleging it stole its wireless speaker technology

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Sonos sues Google, alleging it stole its wireless speaker technology

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