Chief Administrative Law Judge Charles Bullock at the International Trade Commission granted the joint Sonos-Google motion permitting the companies to hold their May 11 settlement conference by phone amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Both sides showed “good cause” when they argued Tuesday their outside lawyers would need to travel to the conference from localities that are under stay-at-home orders (see 2004070034), said Bullock’s order (login required) Wednesday in docket 337-TA-1191. ITC staff didn't oppose moving the conference remotely. Sonos alleges Google smart speakers infringe Sonos multiroom audio patents.

The Copyright Office expanded electronic filing options for various services in response to COVID-19, it said Wednesday. Affected services include registration, recordation, licensing, records research and certification.

“Good cause” exists during the COVID-19 pandemic for the International Trade Commission chief administrative law judge (CALJ) to let Sonos and Google have their May 11 settlement conference by phone, said a joint motion (login required) posted Tuesday in docket 337-TA-1191. CALJ Charles Bullock presides over the Tariff Act Section 337 investigation into Sonos allegations that Google smart speakers and other devices infringe five Sonos multiroom audio patents (see 2002060070). His March 11 order ruled out remotely meeting without permission and for “good cause shown.” Sonos and Google employees “with settlement authority” are in California, and their outside lawyers are there and in Illinois and Washington, said the motion. All are under stay-at-home orders. Requiring them to “travel to and conduct an in-person settlement conference would place these individuals at undue risk,” it said. “While it may be possible that some restrictions could be lifted before May 11, it is unlikely that the parties could schedule an in-person settlement conference to occur in the brief window of time after the lifting of any restrictions.”

IPTV service Nitro TV is "a brazen, large-scale copyright infringement operation, undertaken to maximize ill-gotten profits for as long as possible," content companies said Friday in a U.S. District Court in Los Angeles complaint (in Pacer), seeking an injunction. They said the web- and app-based subscription service carries thousands of unauthorized TV channels and movies. Amazon, AT&T, Comcast, Disney, Sony and ViacomCBS are suing. Also named as a defendant is Texan Alejandro Galindo, administrator of Nitro TV's Facebook group, and various John Does. Nitro TV didn't comment Monday.

Congress might want to consider making the Copyright Act's fair use provision easier to employ given the copyright issues that emerge with increased livestreaming of distance learning and remote worship services during the pandemic, the Congressional Research Service said Friday. Lawmakers could put the burden of proof on the copyright owner or add or amend the Section 110 exemption protections to include performances or displays over the internet, CRS said: Congress could maintain the legal status quo, with webcasters relying on the existing fair use defense and exemptions, because copyright holders might be reluctant to sue educational or religious institutions.

Apple and U.K. music distributor Adasam are conspiring to sell downloads of pirated recordings in the iTunes store, alleged heirs to composers Harold Arlen, Ray Henderson and Harry Warren. Apple and Adasam “failed to obtain any license that would authorize them to reproduce, distribute, or sell the recordings,” said a complaint (in Pacer) Monday in U.S. District Court in San Francisco. “Adasam is operating a huge music piracy operation,” it said. “Apple had actual knowledge of, or willfully chose to ignore, the evidence of piracy, and participated in the infringement on a massive scale.” Defendants allegedly “are nothing more than modern tape pirates and their conduct constitutes willful copyright infringement,” it said. Attempts to reach the companies Tuesday were unsuccessful.

The Patent and Trademark Office waived the rule for original handwritten signatures “personally signed in permanent dark ink” where required in dealings with the agency, said Monday’s Federal Register. PTO activated waiver authority by declaring the COVID-19 pandemic an “extraordinary situation,” the agency said. The waiver will stay in effect “until further notice,” it said.

All Library of Congress buildings and facilities will be closed to the public until further notice, the LOC said Thursday, citing COVID-19 (see 2003130075). This includes access for “researchers and others with reader identification cards,” the LOC said.

Sonos, Google and the International Trade Commission staff agreed to set Sept. 13, 2021, as the target date for completing the agency's Tariff Act Section 337 investigation into Sonos allegations that Google smart speakers and other devices infringe five Sonos multiroom audio patents (see 2002060070). So said a joint procedural schedule (login required) filed Tuesday and posted Wednesday in docket 337-TA-1191. Sonos and Google will hold their first settlement conference May 11 and a second Dec. 18. An in-person mediation session is set for Aug. 3. Sonos is seeking limited exclusion and cease and desist orders against the allegedly infringing Google products.

Sonos withdrew its motion to strike Google’s affirmative defenses against allegations in a Tariff Act Section 337 investigation at the International Trade Commission that Google smart speakers and other devices infringe five Sonos multiroom patents (see 2002060070), said a filing (login required) Thursday in docket 337-TA-1191. Three of Google’s defenses were “improper as a matter of law,” and five others were “nothing more than conclusory statements,” argued Sonos in its March 10 motion to strike. Google later withdrew some defenses and amended others, said Sonos. It still thinks Google’s defenses are “deficient” but won’t challenge them “in an effort to compromise and avoid burdening” ITC staff and Chief Administrative Law Judge Charles Bullock.