US Trade Panel Opens Google Patent Probe After Sonos Complaint

The US International Trade Commission (ITC) announced on Thursday, February 6, it was launching a patent investigation into certain audio players and controllers sold by Alphabet’s Google based on a complaint by rival smart speaker maker Sonos, reported The Financial Post. 

The ITC received a complaint from Sonos last month alleging that the import of certain audio players and controllers and their components infringe on its patents.

Sonos at the time also filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Google in US District Court in Los Angeles and testified to a House of Representatives antitrust subcommittee about its frustrations with Google.

“Sonos has made misleading statements about our history of working together. Our technology and devices were designed independently. We deny their claims vigorously, and will be defending against them,” Google spokesman Jose Castaneda said in a statement on Thursday.

The ITC has in some cases issued orders banning products from US entry on the grounds they infringe US patents. The threat of such bans, known as exclusion orders, can be leverage in settlement discussions.

Full Content: Financial Post

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