The US District Court ruled in Google's favor and withdrew the $32.5 million fine paid to Sonos
CTOnews.com, Oct. 10 (Xinhua)-- U.S. District Judge William Alsup dismissed the previous trial, finding that Google did not infringe Sonos's patent for cross-room audio technology and revoked a $32.5 million fine, Reuters reported.
Us District Judge William Alsup said on Friday that it was inappropriate for Sonos to try to link its multi-room audio (multi-room audio) technology patent to a 2006 application, claiming that its invention predates Google devices.
CTOnews.com reported in May that Sonos sued Google in Los Angeles and the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) in 2020, alleging that the tech giant copied its technology during their collaboration and used it in devices such as Google's Home and Chromecast Audio.
Sonos won a limited import ban on some Google devices at ITC last year, but Google has appealed. Google has also filed patent lawsuits in California and ITC against Sonos, accusing Sonos of using Google's technology in its smart speakers. Sonos called Google's lawsuit a "scare tactic" aimed at "suppressing a smaller competitor".
A spokesman for Sonos said on Monday that the ruling was "wrong in fact and law" and that the company would appeal. Google representatives did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the decision on Monday.
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"Google lost the patent infringement case and had to pay $32.5 million in damages to Sonos, a manufacturer of smart speakers."
