ITC Judge Grants Sonos Motion Terminating Section 337 Alphabet Probe

No “extraordinary circumstances exist” to deny Sonos’ motion to terminate the International Trade Commission’s Tariff Act Section 337 investigation against Alphabet (see 2008240002), said Chief Administrative Law Judge Charles Bullock's order (login required) Tuesday in docket 337-TA-1191 granting the termination. The probe continues into allegations that Google smart devices infringe five Sonos multiroom audio patents, but Sonos withdrew the allegations against the Google parent after it swore under oath it doesn’t import or sell the allegedly infringing products. Bullock agrees with Sonos that terminating the probe against Alphabet “will simplify the investigation without causing prejudice to Google,” he said.