SONOS AND HEOS AGREE TO SETTLE LEGAL DISPUTE
The long legal stoush between Sonos and Sound United, the parent company of HEOS, has ended with an undisclosed settlement agreed to by the warring companies.
The legal marathon began four years ago in the USA when Sonos sued Sound United citing patent infringements by Denon with its HEOS wireless technology.
Sound United, the owner of Denon, Marantz and Polk decided to take Sonos on in court.
The result was a defeat for Denon with a court ruling three Sonos patents had been breached. Denon was ordered to compensate Sonos with US$2 million for breaches occurring between the HEOS debut in 2014 and up until the end of 2016.
Things got even more heated when Sonos initiated another legal challenge against Denon.
The new writ claimed Denon continued to breach Sonos patents through 2017 and it sought compensation for what it described in its documents as “enhanced” damages.
The basis for Sonos' continuing legal battle was the jury’s description of Denon’s behaviour at the previous court case as “wilful”.
Sonos even went so far as demanding that D&M Holdings, Denon’s previous owner should also be penalised for what it described as “inappropriate actions (that) caused Sonos to waste time and significant resources". Sonos won on all counts.
Denon fired back with a claim against Sonos, a move that has now ended with the recent settlement agreed to by all parties.
Sound United CEO, Kevin Duffy remained upbeat.
He said:
Today’s agreement demonstrates our belief in moving the industry forward and removing barriers for both parties to deliver products that delight customers.
Our direction with HEOS is unchanged.
Veteran industry observers say the outcome represents a clear win for Sonos but without details of the settlement agreement, it’s hard to say if HEOS technology will be tweaked to comply with existing Sonos patents.
The betting is that it will.
The news comes this week as Sonos reportedley let go 96, or 8% of its staff.
Posted in: Hi-Fi | Lifestyle | Industry
JOIN IN THE DISCUSSION
Want to share your opinion or get advice from other enthusiasts? Then head into the Message
Forums where thousands of other enthusiasts are communicating on a daily basis.
CLICK HERE FOR FREE MEMBERSHIP
Trending
1Audio-Technica’s Hotaru Levitates Analog Listening to New Heights
2Vertere DG-X Turntable Spins Simplicity into High-End Sound
3Stratton Shrinks the Form Not the Fidelity with Element 6 and 8
4Noise-Free Networking with SilentPower OMNI LAN
5Careful What Music You W(ai)sh For As Deezer Sounds Alarm
applause awards
Each time StereoNET reviews a product, it is considered for an Applause Award. Winning one marks it out as a design of great quality and distinction – a special product in its class, on the grounds of either performance, value for money, or usually both.
Applause Awards are personally issued by StereoNET’s global Editor-in-Chief, David Price – who has over three decades of experience reviewing hi-fi products at the highest level – after consulting with our senior editorial team. They are not automatically given with all reviews, nor can manufacturers purchase them.
The StereoNET editorial team includes some of the world’s most experienced and respected hi-fi journalists with a vast wealth of knowledge. Some have edited popular English language hi-fi magazines, and others have been senior contributors to famous audio journals stretching back to the late 1970s. And we also employ professional IT and home theatre specialists who work at the cutting edge of today’s technology.
We believe that no other online hi-fi and home cinema resource offers such expert knowledge, so when StereoNET gives an Applause Award, it is a trustworthy hallmark of quality. Receiving such an award is the prerequisite to becoming eligible for our annual Product of the Year awards, awarded only to the finest designs in their respective categories. Buyers of hi-fi, home cinema, and headphones can be sure that a StereoNET Applause Award winner is worthy of your most serious attention.