Google had to tweak its smart speakers and even the Pixel 6 line thanks to Sonos’s original suit
Google made some changes to its products including smart speakers and its Pixel phones via software updates. The patents allegedly infringed on by Google reportedly had to do with how consumers can more easily set up a speaker device that controls home audio systems, the pairing of multiple speakers, the independent volume control of different speakers, and the stereo pairing of speakers.
The second volume slider on the Pixel 6 line at left was reportedly disabled due to Sonos’ legal action against Google
When the Pixel 6 line first was released, pressing the volume button showed a second volume slider to the left of the main volume slider that had a musical note on it. At the time of the ITC’s ruling, there was speculation that the second slider was disabled by Google due to its alleged infringement of Sonos patents. We should point out that the second slider has been removed from the Pixel 6 phones in the Android 13 beta.
Google retaliates against Sonos by seeking to have its products banned from import into the states
The two lawsuits were both filed with the United States District Court for the Northern District of California and the Google spokesman told The Verge that the company will file a similar lawsuit with the ITC and seek to have imports of offending Sonos products banned from being imported into the U.S.
Sonos, of course, sees Google as trying to exact revenge on the company. Eddie Lazarus, chief legal officer at Sonos, called the lawsuits an “intimidation tactic” and said they were designed to “retaliate against Sonos for speaking out against Google’s monopolistic practices.” He added that the suit allows Google to avoid making royalty payments to Sonos and “grind down a smaller competitor. It will not succeed.”
