Sonos initiated a lawsuit against Google in 2020 over two patents related to wireless speakers that allow overlapping audio groups. A jury found Google liable, awarding Sonos $30 million, but Judge William Alsup later nullified this verdict, citing patent unenforceability and invalidity. Alsup criticized Sonos's prolonged patent strategy, asserting their claims were inadequately supported by previous documents. The case is now under appeal, with critical discussions anticipated on the enforcement of prosecution laches and the validity of the raised evidence regarding written descriptions and anticipation during trial.
In 2020, Sonos sued Google asserting two wireless speaker patents allowing overlapping groups of speakers. A jury found Google liable and awarded $30 million.
District Judge William Alsup overturned the jury's verdict, ruling the patents unenforceable for prosecution laches and invalid for lack of written description support.
Judge Alsup determined that Sonos's amendments were related to new matter unsupported by earlier filings, which became anticipatory prior art for newer claims.
The appeal is pending; the Federal Circuit will address prosecution laches and the procedure for raising written description issues during the trial.
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