US Jury Rules Google Must Pay $338.7 Million in Chromecast Patent Dispute
On Friday, a federal jury in Waco, Texas ruled that Alphabet’s Google had infringed upon the patent rights of a software developer through its remote-streaming technology. As a result, Google has been ordered to pay $338.7 million in damages.
The jury found that Google’s Chromecast and other devices infringed on patents owned by Touchstream Technologies related to screen-to-screen video streaming.
Google spokesman Jose Castaneda said Monday that the company will appeal the decision and has “always developed technology independently and competed for the merits of our ideas.”
Touchstream’s attorney, Ryan Dykal, said Monday that Touchstream was pleased with the verdict.
New York-based Touchstream, which also goes by the name Shodogg, said in its 2021 lawsuit that founder David Strober invented the technology in 2010 to “move” videos from a small device, such as a smartphone, to a larger device, such as a television.
According to the complaint, Google met with Touchstream about its technology in December 2011, but said it was not interested two months later. Google introduced Chromecast media streaming devices in 2013.
Touchstream said Google’s Chromecast copied its innovations and infringed three of its patents. It also said Google’s Home and Nest smart speakers, as well as third-party TVs and speakers with Chromecast capabilities, infringed on its patents.
Google denied infringement of Touchstream’s rights and argued that the patents are invalid.
Touchstream filed similar complaints against cable operators Comcast, Charter and Altice in Texas earlier this year. These cases are still pending.
