Sonos controversies
Controversies tied to this brand in public sources. A listing is not a finding of fault.
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2024
Mobile application redesign backlash
A major Sonos application update generated extensive customer criticism over missing controls, reliability problems, degraded setup and device-management workflows, and disruption to established features. The episode damaged confidence in the software layer that links Sonos hardware together.
2022
US ITC imposes import ban on Google hardware products in Sonos patent case
Ban or restriction
The US International Trade Commission ruled in favor of Sonos in its patent dispute with Google and imposed an import ban on a number of Google's hardware products. The report says the ban would take effect after a 60-day compliance period.
Company response
Denial — Google
Google calls the lawsuits “frivolous”
Source excerpt
Today, the US International Trade Commission (ITC) has ruled in favor of Sonos, imposing an import ban on a number of Google's hardware products – Nest, Pixel and Chromecast among them
Firstly, the import ban proposed by the ITC is only for Google hardware products being imported into the US, and the Commission has given the tech giant 60 days to comply before the ban takes place.
Sonos claimed that Google stole key elements of this technology after a partnership back in 2013
2022
US trade court bars imports of some Google products
Ban or restriction
The U.S. trade court barred Google from importing products found to infringe Sonos smart-speaker patents, while allowing imports of products redesigned to avoid infringement. The ITC affirmed its August decision.
Company response
Denial — Google
A Google spokesperson said it does not expect the decision to affect its ability to import or sell its products.
Source excerpt
The U.S. International Trade Commission affirmed an August decision that Google audio products infringed five Sonos patents and banned Google from importing “networked speaker devices” and devices that can control them like mobile phones and laptops.
A Google spokesperson said it does not expect the decision to affect its ability to import or sell its products.
A U.S. trade court barred Google late Thursday from importing products that infringe home-audio company Sonos’s smart-speaker patents.
2021
German court orders suspension of Google Cast-related product sales
Ruling
A Hamburg court in Germany preliminarily ruled that Google products using Cast technology must be taken off sale in Germany; the report says the ruling found Google’s Irish subsidiary allegedly infringed Sonos patents.
Source excerpt
德國漢堡法院早前作出初步裁決，指 Google 的愛爾蘭分公司涉嫌侵犯了揚聲器生產商 Sonos 的專利，所有涉及投放（Cast）技術的 Google 產品都需要在當地停售，當中涉及智能揚聲器、媒體播放器和手機，此外，YouTube Music 程式亦需要下架。
2020
Sonos files patent lawsuits against Google
Lawsuit filed
Sonos filed two lawsuits against Google alleging infringement of five patents and seeking financial compensation and an order banning sales of certain Google devices. Google disputes the claims and said it would defend itself.
Company response
Denial — Google
Google told Gizmodo that it disputes the claims and will “vigorously” defend itself in court.
Denial — 谷歌
我们的技术和设备都是独立设计的。我们坚决否认他们的说法，并将辩护对抗他们。
Source excerpt
Accusing the tech giant of “blatantly and knowingly” infringing on its technology patents, smart-speaker maker Sonos on Tuesday filed two lawsuits against Google after years’ of quiet talks between the pair apparently fell through.
Google told Gizmodo that it disputes the claims and will “vigorously” defend itself in court.
Sonos has filed complaints in the Central District of California and before the United States International Trade Commission, a quasi-judicial federal agency, over five patents after reportedly warning Google about the alleged infringements repeatedly.
2020
Sonos disclosed customer email exposure
Issue disclosure
Sonos disclosed that an email sent in response to customer inquiries exposed recipients' email addresses to one another. According to the company, no further information was included in the email, and Sonos apologized to each affected customer. The incident was reported on January 30, 2020.
Sonos said an email sent in response to customer inquiries exposed recipients’ email addresses to one another. The company said no further information was included and that it apologized to each affected customer.
Company response
Apology — Sonos
We have apologised to each customer affected by this error
Source excerpt
We have apologised to each customer affected by this error and have put in place processes to ensure this will not happen again.
Earlier today, an email was sent in response to a number of customer inquiries that included email addresses. No further information was included.
Speaker-maker Sonos has apologised after accidentally revealing the email addresses of hundreds of its customers to each other.
2020
Sonos CEO apologizes over ending support for older speakers
Company response
Sonos CEO Patrick Spence apologized after customers reacted with outrage to the company’s decision to stop software updates for older speaker models. Sonos said the older speakers would continue to work as before after the May cutoff.
Company response
Apology — Sonos
Sonos boss Patrick Spence has been forced to apologise for the decision.
Apology — Sonos
Spence apologizes for any confusion and reiterates that the so-called legacy products will “continue to work as they do today.”
Clarification — Sonos
Spence apologizes for any confusion and reiterates that the so-called legacy products will “continue to work as they do today.”
Remediation — Sonos
We are working on a way to split your system so that modern products work together and get the latest features, while legacy products work together and remain in their current state.
Source excerpt
Said older speakers will 'continue to work as they do today' after the May cut-off
Sonos boss Patrick Spence has been forced to apologise for the decision. He admitted the company 'did not gt it right' after outrage from customers.
US-based audio firm announced it will stop software updates for older models.
2020
U.S. ITC investigates Google-Sonos patent allegations
Investigation
The report says the U.S. International Trade Commission had opened an investigation into the patent-infringement allegations involving Google and Sonos.
Company response
Denial — Google
A Google spokesperson said the company would fight the lawsuit and was "disappointed" that Sonos chose to sue instead of "continuing negotiations in good faith."
Denial — Amazon
Amazon, meanwhile, denied that it violated any patents and said its multi-room music was "developed independently."
Denial — Google
谷歌否认侵犯Sonos任何专利，并表示这些指控不实。
Source excerpt
美国国际贸易委员会现已对此展开调查。
Representatives for Google told the Times that the company was “disappointed that Sonos brought these lawsuits instead of continuing negotiations in good faith” and that they denied the claims.
Speaker company Sonos has filed a lawsuit against Google in two federal court systems, as reports. The Santa Barbara-based firm claims that Google knowingly infringed upon patented Sonos technology in the development of their own smart speaker systems, beginning with the launch of the Google Home series.
2019
Recycle Mode device-bricking controversy
Customers criticized Sonos's trade-in program because Recycle Mode permanently disabled participating devices after a return period. The policy was viewed by users as wasteful and coercive, particularly because the affected products could otherwise continue functioning.