Sonos, Google Seek ITC OK for May 11 Settlement Conference by Phone
“Good cause” exists during the COVID-19 pandemic for the International Trade Commission chief administrative law judge (CALJ) to let Sonos and Google have their May 11 settlement conference by phone, said a joint motion (login required) posted Tuesday in docket…
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337-TA-1191. CALJ Charles Bullock presides over the Tariff Act Section 337 investigation into Sonos allegations that Google smart speakers and other devices infringe five Sonos multiroom audio patents (see 2002060070). His March 11 order ruled out remotely meeting without permission and for “good cause shown.” Sonos and Google employees “with settlement authority” are in California, and their outside lawyers are there and in Illinois and Washington, said the motion. All are under stay-at-home orders. Requiring them to “travel to and conduct an in-person settlement conference would place these individuals at undue risk,” it said. “While it may be possible that some restrictions could be lifted before May 11, it is unlikely that the parties could schedule an in-person settlement conference to occur in the brief window of time after the lifting of any restrictions.”