‘Sound Verification’ Patent Owner Hits Sonos With Infringement Complaint

The Trueplay tuning feature on Sonos speakers and soundbars infringes a May 2018 patent on “sound verification,” alleged the patent’s owner, Chimetech Licensing, in U.S. District Court in Wilmington, Delaware. Sonos says Trueplay allows users to place their Sonos speakers wherever they want and still achieve quality sound using a tuning app to adapt the speakers to the contours of the room. Sonos is “liable for infringement” by making and selling “systems and methods for verifying audio transmission” using the Sonos One speaker, Sonos Beam soundbar and other Trueplay-compatible products, said the Monday complaint (in Pacer). The patent (9,984,703) was based on an August 2017 application. It lists two Illinois inventors and was assigned to Empire Technology Development of Wilmington. The complaint seeks a judgment declaring Sonos guilty of infringement, plus damages “adequate to compensate Chimetech” for past and future allegedly bad behavior. Sonos didn't comment Tuesday.