An audio firm wants Apple, Samsung, and Google phones banned in the US

As a giant tech firm selling some of the world's most popular consumer electronic devices globally, Samsung faces patent infringement lawsuits every now and then. The company is now subject to a potential ban on selling Galaxy phones and other devices in the US due to alleged audio patent infringement.

A US-based audio technology firm called BoomCloud 360 has alleged that Apple, Google, and Samsung phones use three of its spatial audio processing technologies and cloud-based sound optimization. The company filed its complaint (via Android Headlines) in August under Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930 and is asking the United States International Trade Commission (USITC) to issue a Limited Exclusion Order, which would block the import and sale of affected devices in the US.

The USITC has now officially opened an investigation into the allegation but hasn't determined any wrongdoing yet. Until a conclusion is reached, affected devices can remain on sale. Specific phone models that allegedly infringe upon those audio technologies haven't been made public yet.

This lawsuit isn't restricted to just phones. BoomCloud 360 has also included smart speakers, headphones, earbuds, and smart TVs in its complaint.

Apple, Google, and Samsung have all filed declaratory judgment cases against the claims in response to the patent infringement allegation. Usually, even if it is proved that these companies used those patents without paying for them, they either redesign their technologies slightly or reach an out-of-court settlement.