Sonos to Google: Stop selling speakers, phones and laptops now
Google is at CES this week touting all the different partners it has to bring the personal Assistant to speakers, smart displays, phones and the like. One partner is popping mad - wireless speaker pioneer Sonos.
The Santa Barbara, California maker of speakers that can be added to home systems for improved sound without that last-century accessory, speaker wire, filed two complaints against Google Tuesday, and called for an immediate cease-and-desist order.
If granted, it would mean Google would have to stop selling the Google and Nest Home speakers, Pixel phones and laptops. That was the cease-and-desist request sought by Sonos in a complaint filed with the International Trade Commission, along with a separate patent violation lawsuit in federal court in California.
"Google has been blatantly and knowingly copying our patented technology in creating its audio products," said Sonos CEO Patrick Spence in a statement sent to Paste BN. "Despite our repeated & extensive efforts over the last few years, Google has not shown any willingness to work with us on a mutually beneficial solution. We’re left with no choice but to litigate in the interest of protecting our inventions, our customers, and the spirit of innovation that’s defined Sonos from the beginning.”
At the CES in Las Vegas, which runs through Friday, Google is touting the many products with Google Assistant built in. They include August Smart Locks, Philips Hue lighting, GE Appliances washing machines, the Moen smart shower, and Meross Smart garage door opener.
It was in January 2019 at last year's CES that Sonos previewed a new feature for its popular One connected speaker: the ability to use either Amazon's Alexa or the Google Assistant for music commands and general queries.
The feature still exists for consumers.
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The origin of the battle dates to 2013, when Sonos teamed with Google to offer its Google Play music service to users of Sonos speakers.
The following year, Google introduced Chromecast Audio, a since-discontinued feature which let you beam digital music to pre-existing "dumb" speakers and transfer music wirelessly.
In its complaint, Sonos says Google took advantage of the relationship between the companies and stole Sonos' intellectual property and undercut its pricing to sell Google products at a heavy discount.
In response, Google says, "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. We dispute these claims and will defend them vigorously.”
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