Google Gets Mixed Ruling in Dense Case on Sonos Speaker Patents

Sonos Inc. shook off another Google attempt to invalidate a pair of patents about technology that allows users to customize groups of speakers, with a 10-day jury trial approaching in May.

In a mixed ruling for Sonos, Judge William Alsup also tossed the speaker maker’s claim that infringement of one of the patents—from a previous ruling in the case—was intentional.

Google had moved for summary judgment to invalidate these patents and receive a judgment of noninfringement, among other claims.

Alsup, of the US District Court for the Northern District of California, previously criticized both companies and said their tactics were ...