Sonos CEO Patrick Spence: Google didn't take us seriously
Sonos CEO Patrick Spence on the Google patent lawsuit, competing against Sony and Bose, and why he's counting on Europe to help level the playing field.
In this episode of Handelsblatt Disrupt, I speak with Patrick Spence, CEO of audio specialist Sonos, about new technologies in audio and the company’s successful patent case against Google. “Google didn’t take us seriously. So we had to go to court,” says Spence.
Sonos has been developing wirelessly networked speakers since its founding in 2002. Around five years ago, Google moved into the market for software-controlled speakers and, according to Sonos, abused its market power.
The Santa Barbara, California company prevailed in the patent proceedings before the US International Trade Commission. The ITC found that Google had infringed five Sonos patents. Google was subsequently required to modify its products.
Spence joined the company as Chief Commercial Officer ten years ago and became CEO five years later. He explains how Sonos has held its own against rivals Sony, Bose and Panasonic – and why he is counting on Europe’s help to create fair competition with the large technology companies.