Sonos Won’t Challenge Google’s Defenses in ITC Smart-Speaker Patent Probe

Sonos withdrew its motion to strike Google’s affirmative defenses against allegations in a Tariff Act Section 337 investigation at the International Trade Commission that Google smart speakers and other devices infringe five Sonos multiroom patents (see 2002060070), said a filing (login required) Thursday in docket 337-TA-1191. Three of Google’s defenses were “improper as a matter of law,” and five others were “nothing more than conclusory statements,” argued Sonos in its March 10 motion to strike. Google later withdrew some defenses and amended others, said Sonos. It still thinks Google’s defenses are “deficient” but won’t challenge them “in an effort to compromise and avoid burdening” ITC staff and Chief Administrative Law Judge Charles Bullock.