Google, Sonos Intensify Patent Clash as Jury Deliberates Latest Trial
Both Google and Sonos have filed motions challenging past verdicts as their patent dispute continues in court.
Why it matters: Patent litigation between tech giants like Google and Sonos is setting precedents for IP strategies in the smart device and audio tech sectors. Legal teams at major corporations and law firms should track these developments for their potential impact on IP enforcement and defense tactics.
- Both companies filed motions challenging the adequacy of the previous jury verdicts.
- The Federal Circuit reinstated Sonos's $32.5M verdict against Google in September 2025.
- The ITC ruled in 2022 that Google infringed five Sonos patents, leading to a product import ban.
- A jury began deliberating the latest trial on May 22, 2026.
The high-stakes patent litigation between Google and Sonos intensified this week, as both companies filed motions seeking to influence the outcome of their ongoing dispute over multi-room audio technology patents.
- On May 22, 2026, the jury began deliberations after closing arguments in the latest trial, highlighting the case's continued momentum as high-profile tech companies vie for leverage in U.S. courts. (Courthouse News)
- The backdrop: In 2022, the U.S. International Trade Commission decisively found that Google infringed five Sonos patents and issued an import ban affecting select Google smart devices, including Nest speakers and Chromecast. A Sonos spokesperson said, “We appreciate that the ITC has definitively validated the five Sonos patents at issue in this case and ruled unequivocally that Google infringes all five.”
- While a jury initially awarded Sonos $32.5 million, U.S. District Judge William Alsup overturned that verdict in October 2023. Sonos appealed, and the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated the $32.5 million award in September 2025, reversing the lower court’s move. (TechCrunch, Orrick)
This back-and-forth underscores the complexity and persistence of IP battles between tech industry leaders. The outcomes could affect product design, licensing negotiations, and patent litigation strategies well beyond the audio sector.
By the numbers:
- $32.5 million — Jury verdict in favor of Sonos, reinstated in Sep. 2025
- 5 — Sonos patents validated by the ITC against Google
- 2022 — Year of the ITC's product import ban on select Google devices
Yes, but: Specific outcomes from the ongoing jury deliberations remain unavailable, leaving the immediate impact unresolved.
What's next: The legal community is watching for the outcome of the current jury deliberations, which could significantly influence future IP strategies.