Amazon’s Echo infringes ‘voice search’ patents, claims suit
A US-based IP licensing company has filed a complaint against Amazon, claiming that Amazon’s Echo, and its incorporated voice assistant Alexa, infringes two of its patents.
The suit was filed yesterday August 6 at the US District Court for the Western District of Texas by Parus Holdings, which said Amazon was wilfully infringing its patents (US numbers 7,076,431 and 9,451,084).
The patents cover technology for voice portals that provide access to news, weather, sports, financial, entertainment and other content.
They also cover a system that allows users to browse websites and retrieve information by using conversational voice commands.
In its complaint, Parus said Amazon directly infringes the patents by making and selling products that include its Alexa virtual assistant.
It said Amazon’s Echo infringes the patents because it comprises a system for retrieving information from pre-selected websites by uttering speech commands into a voice-enabled device”.
Parus also claimed Amazon indirectly infringes the patent by instructing customers and developers to use its patented technology.
According to the filing, Amazon had knowledge of the ‘431 patent since 2007 when Parus first sent the company a notice of infringement.
It said Amazon had been aware of the ‘084 patent since February 2018.
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