Sonos, Inc. v. Google LLC — Fed. Cir. (Nov 5, 2026)

The Federal Circuit hears Sonos versus Google. Sonos challenged Google's patent on using one wireless device to help another join a wireless network. Claim six adds a message sent over that network indicating that the new device has successfully joined. The Board rejected Sonos's obviousness challenge to that claim, and Sonos appealed. Sonos will contend that older network-setup technology made the message obvious to a skilled person, and that the Board overlooked or misread its evidence. Google will defend the Board's distinction between obtaining network credentials and actually joining the network, as well as the need to explain the challenge in the original petition. Listen for what the older technology taught, and whether Sonos's petition gave a good reason to add the message. This is a patentability review, not a trial over product infringement.
Sonos, Inc. v. Google LLC (No. 25-1338) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, argued November 5, 2026.
Sources:
Argument audio — official Federal Circuit recording; all advocacy complete; original administrative closing-word tail is clipped and preserved; levels balanced:
https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/oral-arguments/25-1338_11052026.mp3
Case and argument date — official Federal Circuit archive:
https://www.cafc.uscourts.gov/home/oral-argument/listen-to-oral-arguments/
Prior Patent Trial and Appeal Board decision — IPR2023-00806, Paper 20, November 1, 2024; not the outcome of this appeal:
https://ptacts.uspto.gov/ptacts/public-informations/petitions/1553872/download-documents?artifactId=m7nHng8d6R7kYr9HMFUScxnRuWEtF8JVyT3qjOt--01fnoFgBxhvUHA
Patent technology and actual claims — issued U.S. Patent 11,050,615 B2, public text copy; not a current patent-status determination:
https://patents.google.com/patent/US11050615B2/en