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(Pocket-lint) - Sonos, possibly 1 of the best-known premium audio companies, filed a suit against Google astatine the opening of 2020. The US International Trade Commission (ITC) past ruled successful favour of Sonos successful January 2022.
Here's what you request to know, including however it volition impact you if you are a Google astute talker user.
Why did Sonos writer Google?
Sonos claimed that Google copied its patented talker exertion and is utilizing it successful Google Home, Google Nest products and Pixel products.
It besides claims Google subsidises its devices to merchantability them astatine a cheaper price, and it yet uses those aforesaid devices to cod information from buyers.
What did Sonos assertion successful its lawsuit?
The New York Times reported that Sonos really filed two lawsuits. They covered 5 patents for a wireless talker design. They besides claimed that Google stole Sonos' multiroom talker exertion aft accessing it done a concern successful 2013. Google allegedly utilized patented exertion successful Chromecast Audio, successful bid to fto Sonos speakers enactment Google Play Music (now YouTube Music).
Google allegedly continued to usage the tech - adjacent including successful the Google Home lineup and Pixel products. Despite infringement warnings, Sonos said Google did not shown immoderate willingness to enactment with it connected a mutually beneficial solution. Through a abstracted lawsuit with the International Trade Commission, Sonos seeked a US income prohibition connected Google's laptops, phones, and speakers.
Google's Pixel devices are listed arsenic "infringing hardware controller devices" due to the fact that they person infringing Google audio apps pre-installed.
Did Sonos person immoderate proof?
Starting successful 2016, soon aft the archetypal Google Home launched, Sonos said it began informing Google astir infringement. By February 2019, and aft repeated warnings, Sonos said it had accused Google of infringing connected a full of 100 patents. The company's suit adjacent referred to respective quality reports that noted Google's caller features are akin to Sonos' existing features, specified as:
- Synchronising audio crossed groups of speakers
- Adjusting the radical volume
- Setting up devices connected a section wireless network
Sonos besides told The New York Times that, erstwhile it tried to marque a astute talker that could enactment aggregate dependable adjunct platforms, some Google and Amazon told Sonos it had to marque users take 1 erstwhile mounting up the speaker. Sonos claimed that Google threatened to yank its Google Assistant from Sonos' speakers if it's ever made disposable alongside a rival similar Alexa.
Which Google devices infringe connected Sonos?
The allegedly infringing products see the Chromecast, Chromecast Ultra, the Nest Mini, Nest Hub, Nest Hub Max, and Nest Wifi Point, the Pixel phones, Pixel Slate, and Pixelbook laptop.
Why hasn't Sonos sued Amazon too?
Sonos claimed that Amazon has besides infringed its patents with the Echo lineup, but The New York Times reported that Sonos executives didn't privation to combat some Google and Amazon - 2 tech giants - successful tribunal astatine once.
Have Google and Amazon responded?
Google and Amazon some denied Sonos' claims to The New York Times.
How does this each impact you?
It doesn't impact you astatine the moment, though it could present that Sonos has won the lawsuit.
The import prohibition is for Google devices being imported into the US, but the ITC has fixed Google 60 days to comply earlier the prohibition would travel into place. It's apt Google volition rotation retired bundle updates to its products that volition connection antithetic solutions that don't infringe connected the 5 Sonos patents and truthful halt the prohibition happening.
The Verge reported that a Google spokesperson has said the ITC has already approved immoderate of the measures and immoderate workarounds person already appeared, specified arsenic measurement adjustment. Rather than the measurement of each speakers and devices successful a talker radical being adjusted simultaneously, users person to set each device's measurement separately. Sonos enables some successful its system, you tin set arsenic a radical oregon individually.
It's besides said that "a tiny acceptable of users whitethorn request to usage the 'Device Utility app' (DUA) to implicit merchandise installation and updates", though it's imaginable this volition impact caller customers alternatively than existing.
At the moment, the interaction is apt to beryllium minimal connected Google instrumentality users, though it's inactive a immense triumph for Sonos and it could interaction devices from Google going forward.
Writing by Maggie Tillman and Britta O'Boyle. Originally published connected 7 January 2020.
English (US) ·