On June 21, 2023, a jury in the United States District Court for the District of Delaware found Google liable for patent infringement and ordered the company to pay Personal Audio, LLC $15.1 million in damages. Personal Audio is a company that owns patents related to audio software, and the jury found that Google’s music app Google Play Music infringed on two of Personal Audio’s patents.
The patents in question relate to the way that Google Play Music allows users to download, navigate, and edit playlists. Personal Audio argued that Google’s use of these features infringed on its patents. The jury agreed with Personal Audio and found that Google had willfully infringed on the patents.
This is the second time that Google has been found liable for patent infringement by a jury. In 2021, a jury in California ordered Google to pay Sonos $32.5 million for patent infringement.
Google has said that it plans to appeal the verdict. The company has argued that the patents in question are invalid and that it did not infringe on them.
The verdict in this case is a reminder of the importance of intellectual property protection. Companies that infringe on the patents of others can be liable for significant damages.
The technical aspects of the case
The patents in question are US Patent Nos. 6,856,341 and 7,248,523. The ‘341 patent relates to a method for managing playlists, and the ‘523 patent relates to a system for displaying playlists.
Google Play Music uses a number of features that are covered by these patents, including the ability to download playlists, navigate between playlists, and edit playlists. Personal Audio argued that Google’s use of these features infringed on its patents because they were substantially similar to the features described in the patents.
The jury agreed with Personal Audio and found that Google had willfully infringed on the patents. This means that the jury found that Google knew that it was infringing on Personal Audio’s patents and that it did so anyway.
The legal implications of the case
The verdict in this case has a number of legal implications. First, it shows that juries are willing to find large companies like Google liable for patent infringement. Second, it shows that companies that infringe on patents can be liable for significant damages, even if the infringement is not intentional. Third, it shows that the law of patent infringement can be complex, and that companies need to be careful not to infringe on the patents of others.
The future of the case
Google has said that it plans to appeal the verdict. The appeal will be heard by the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. If Google is successful on appeal, the verdict will be overturned and Google will not have to pay damages. However, if Google is unsuccessful on appeal, the verdict will stand and Google will have to pay damages to Personal Audio.
The verdict in this case is a significant development in the law of patent infringement. It shows that juries are willing to find large companies liable for patent infringement, and that companies that infringe on patents can be liable for significant damages. The outcome of the appeal will be closely watched by companies in the technology industry, and it will have a significant impact on the law of patent infringement.
Written by Sanjaykumar Patel, Patent & Trademark Attorney, Excelon IP
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