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The case is part of a sprawling intellectual property dispute
between the former business partners that includes other
lawsuits in the U.S., Canada, France, Germany and the
Netherlands.
Sonos has asked the court for $90 million in damages from Google
in the San Francisco case, down from $3 billion after U.S.
District Judge William Alsup narrowed the case, according to a
Google court filing. Sonos alleges Google infringed two of its
patents related to multi-room wireless audio.
Google spokesperson Jose Castaneda said the case relates to
"some very specific features that are not commonly used," and
that Sonos "mischaracterized our partnership and technology."
Sonos declined to comment on the dispute.
The companies previously worked together to integrate Google's
streaming music service into Sonos products. Sonos first sued
Google for patent infringement in Los Angeles and at the U.S.
International Trade Commission in 2020, accusing the tech giant
of copying its technology during their collaboration.
Sonos won a limited import ban on some Google devices from the
ITC last year, which Google has appealed. Google has countered
with its own patent lawsuits in California and at the ITC.
Alsup has had sharp words for both companies. Last month, he
called their attacks on one another's expert testimony
"emblematic of the worst of patent litigation" with "much ink
spilled for little purpose."
In a 2020 order, he cited the "enormous" resources already
expended on the dispute.
"By the end, our parties' legal bills will likely have been able
to build dozens of schools, pay all the teachers, and provide
hot lunches to the children," the judge wrote.
(Reporting by Blake Brittain in Washington; Editing by David
Bario and Josie Kao)
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