The Delhi High Court has referred a commercial patent infringement suit filed by US-based technology company Voicemonk Inc. against Google LLC and its group entities to mediation, after Google informed the Court that it was willing to explore an amicable settlement.
During the hearing, Google submitted that it had previously made a settlement offer to Voicemonk and was now prepared to make an improved proposal through the mediation process. However, opposing the mediation call, Voicemonk submitted that the parties had already been through mediation, that Google had made an offer which was not satisfactory, and this was the reason it had approached the Court again. Taking note of the submission, the Court directed the parties to attempt resolution through mediation.
The dispute arises from a patent infringement action instituted by Voicemonk Inc., over two indian Patents. According to Voicemonk, the 1st Patent relates to virtual agent systems capable of executing correlated actions based on natural-language user inputs, while the 2nd Patent concerns device-level systems that learn sequential user behaviour across applications to recommend or execute follow-on actions.
Voicemonk has alleged that Google’s artificial intelligence-driven products and services, including virtual assistant and behavioural intelligence technologies, infringe these patents. The suit has been filed against Google LLC along with its affiliated entities seeking a permanent injunction restraining Google from making, using, selling, distributing, or commercialising products and services alleged to infringe the suit patents, along with damages, rendition of accounts, and extensive disclosure and preservation of technical and commercial records.
The plaintiff has also highlighted that both patents have undergone extensive prosecution and scrutiny, including post-grant opposition and appellate proceedings before the Madras High Court, and remain valid and subsisting.
Pursuant to the court’s order, the matter will now proceed before the mediation forum in accordance with the High Court’s direction.
Apperanaces
Voicemonk Inc.- Lexport along with Advocates Raj Latha Kotni, Srinivas Kotni, Ananya Nikhil Singh, Shyam Kishor Maurya, Swagita Pandey and Anirudh Ramanathan, with Advocate Rajeshwari Hariharan leading arguments.