‘Bogged Down’ Sonos-Google Clash ‘Should Be Settled,’ Judge Says

Sonos Inc.’s allegations that Alphabet Inc.’s Google infringes patents for smart-speaker technologies “can and should be settled on its own merits,” a federal judge said, sending the closely watched case to an appointed mediator ahead of a looming trial.

Judge William Alsup referred the consolidated case to Judge Thomas Hixson for mediation that he said “is mandatory, not optional,” according to an order issued Thursday in the US District Court for the Northern District of California.

“This action was originally referred to a private mediator for settlement,” Alsup said, “but the private mediation has become bogged down in larger ...