Masimo (NASDAQ: MASI), a medical products manufacturer who also owns audio products maker Sound United, said this week that a U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) Administrative Law Judge in Washington D.C. has ruled that Apple, Inc. (NASDAQ: AAPL) has violated Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 by importing and selling models of their Apple Watch that incorporate light-based pulse oximetry technology that infringes on two of Masimo’s patents. Apple first introduced its pulse oximeter sensor in their Apple Watch Series 6 in 2020 and continues to incorporate it into models up to the current series.
patent infringement
Sound United Parent Masimo Wins Big as Judge Finds Former Employee Stole Its Trade Secrets

Findings Place Apple, a Separate Dispute, into Legal Crosshairs
Masimo Corp. (NASDAQ: MASI), the owner of major audio company Sound United, revealed last week that it had received a favorable ruling against a former employee who was found by the Honorable Judge James V. Selna of the United States District Court of the Central District of California, to have stolen numerous company trade secrets and then employed them in the design of a competitive product and in numerous patent applications. With this conclusion, Masimo earned a long, hard-fought win that gives them positive momentum as they head to court again against a bigger combatant.
Why is this case – Masimo vs. True Wearables – particularly notable? Because alongside this action, Masimo is also suing Apple, Inc. on many of the same issues – a case that has just been incredibly bolstered by the District Court’s ruling against True Wearables and its founder Dr. Lamego.
See why things are getting interesting for Masimo and hot for Apple
[Read more…] about Sound United Parent Masimo Wins Big as Judge Finds Former Employee Stole Its Trade SecretsGoogle Intensified Its Patent War With Sonos, Launched Battle on New Front

After two years of tussling in courts, with both sides registering a mix of wins and losses on various matters, you’d think some kind of settlement would be in order. But last week, Google intensified its patent war with Sonos by opening up yet another front with two new lawsuits on voice control and other technologies, leading me to believe that any type of settlement is yet down the road.
Learn how Google has opened a new front with Sonos
[Read more…] about Google Intensified Its Patent War With Sonos, Launched Battle on New FrontTiny Koss Scores Big Win over Giant Apple in Patent Dispute Settlement

Expects $10-$14 Million in Licensing Fees in Current Quarter
Back in August 2020, I told you about Koss Corporation filing patent infringement claims against Apple Inc, Bose Corporation, PEAG LLC (JLAB Audio), Plantronics, and Skullcandy. It seemed like an improbable journey for the relatively small specialty headphone maker, but they plunged ahead anyway confident that their wireless audio patents had been unfairly infringed.
This week, after two years of legal battles that had intensified in 2022 and on the eve of a jury trial with mighty Apple, Inc. the two parties reached an agreement settling all disputes in a deal that looks really sweet for Koss.
See more on the big win for Koss
[Read more…] about Tiny Koss Scores Big Win over Giant Apple in Patent Dispute SettlementGoliath Has Fallen; Sonos Prevails Over Google in ITC Patent Action

But Did Google Ultimately Outsmart Them?
I don’t think it’s possible for me to overstate the significance of what just happened last week when, in a final decision from the U.S. International Trade Commission, the full panel affirmed a commission judge’s ruling that Google had in fact infringed on five patents held by Sonos. It is a real-life version of the bible story of David versus Goliath. Make no mistake, this David’s win may change our industry in fundamental ways.
A Tech David takes down a Tech Goliath
[Read more…] about Goliath Has Fallen; Sonos Prevails Over Google in ITC Patent ActionU.S. ITC Launches Massive Investigation of Certain TVs, Remotes & Components

Broad Implications of Roku, Inc. v. Universal Electronics, Inc.
The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) has launched a massive investigation into a wide range of televisions, remote controls, and other components that is sure to rattle a few cages around the industry. The investigation is the result of a patent infringement action taken by Roku, Inc. (Roku) against Universal Electronics, Inc. (UEI) and a long list of UEI customers and associates back in April. At the same time that Roku filed their lawsuit in a California District Court, they also filed a complaint with the ITC alleging Section 337 violations (“unfair imports”) by the same long list of prominent players in electronics.
See more on the Roku / ITC investigation
[Read more…] about U.S. ITC Launches Massive Investigation of Certain TVs, Remotes & ComponentsSonos & Google Patent War Gets Ugly, Each Accuses the Other of Bad Faith

A hearing before a California federal judge brought an ugly exchange between attorneys for both Sonos and Google – with each side pointing their finger at the other and accusing them of bad faith. That attorneys got ugly against their counterparts is not in itself surprising. However, the speed with which this dispute devolved to that point was a surprise.
Learn more about this escalating battle between Sonos & Google…
[Read more…] about Sonos & Google Patent War Gets Ugly, Each Accuses the Other of Bad FaithSonos & Google Patent War Intensifies as Each Fires New Salvos This Week

It must be really interesting in those Sonos and Google joint product development meetings, where the parties meet to discuss their partnership on the Google assistant technology built into Sonos products. You see, in addition to this product partnership, both companies are ensnarled in a nasty round of lawsuits accusing each other of various patent violations – with tactics and rhetoric heating up as each fired new salvos at the other just this week. On Monday, Google sued Sonos. On Tuesday, Sonos sued Google. This is getting serious…
See what’s happening now between Sonos and Google
[Read more…] about Sonos & Google Patent War Intensifies as Each Fires New Salvos This WeekU.S. Trade Commission Opens Formal Investigation of Google on Sonos Complaint

The U.S. International Trade Commission has announced that it is launching a patent investigation into various speaker and controller products offered by Alphabet Inc.’s Google brand. This investigation initiation is the result of a formal complaint made by Sonos, Inc. who makes similar products that compete with Google, and claims the tech giant stole their technology.
See more on this Sonos – Google development
[Read more…] about U.S. Trade Commission Opens Formal Investigation of Google on Sonos ComplaintGiving No Ground, Lenbrook Launches Robust Retaliation to Sonos Lawsuit

After receiving a stipulation allowing them more time to respond, Lenbrook Industries Ltd, and Lenbrook America, last week filed their response to the Sonos patent litigation they were hit with in June. It was a robust and smart response that clearly communicated that Lenbrook planned to give no ground in this dispute.
While perhaps not quite as audacious as the D&M response when they were first dealt the blow of litigation…Lenbrook offered a smart and savvy response that not only pushed back but seemingly undercuts many of Sonos’ core allegations..and patents.