Google ’s impertinent speakers and Android gimmick are a major part of its visual sensation for aconnectedecosystem , which could be in endangerment after a barter court ’s opinion today .
The United States International Trade Commission ( ITC ) ruled that Google infringe on audio patent held by Sonos . ( you may look at a PDF of the rulinghere . ) The ruling intend that Google is no longer allowed to import merchandise that infringe on Sonos ’s intellectual property — its gizmo are manufactured abroad — and the mission served the company with a cease - and - desist . The ruling is headed for President Biden ’s desk , and Biden then has 60 days to veto the order .
The military commission spent two days enquire whether Google had dishonour the Tariff Act of 1930 , a law institute to foreclose unfair competition from imported ware that violate U.S. letters patent , stylemark , and copyright . The charge had been in slowness since lastAugust , after a judge had preliminarily reign Google had infringed on patents .
Google’s smart speakers, plus some of its other devices, have been found to infringe on existing Sonos patents.Photo: Gizmodo / Andrew Liszewski
Sonos had asked the ITC to jam imports of Google products that infringe on its patents , including Google Home smart speakers , Pixel smartphones , and Chromecast gimmick . A Google spokesmantold Bloombergthat it had been working to redesign its mathematical product after the preliminary ruling last August to avoid infringing on Sonos patent so there would be no disruption in sales .
“ While we disaccord with today ’s decision , we will check our divvy up customer have the best experience using our products and do not experience any hurly burly , ” Google voice José Castañeda allege . “ We will try further review and continue to defend ourselves against Sonos ’ frivolous claim about our partnership and cerebral belongings . ”
Sonos ab initio filed its complaint back inJanuary 2020after reportedly warning Google on multiple social occasion about the alleged infringements . Sonos CEO Patrick Spence claimed at the time that Google had “ blatantly and knowingly ” copied its patented audio technology . The patents in question seem related to Google ’s drift infrastructure , like how it handles multi - elbow room playback between connection twist .
Sonos has say antecedently that it would like Google to license its applied science , and the two companies reportedly discussed such an arrangement . Sonos Chief Legal Officer Eddie Lazarus guess that Google had infringed on more than 150 of the company ’s patents .
Google still has the chance to appeal the ruling after the presidential review period , so it ’s unclear whether the company will soon have to start selling dissimilar versions of its devices .
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