A little-known audio company is trying to get Samsung, Apple, and Google devices banned in US

Samsung, Apple, and Google are being dragged into a new patent fight in the US, and it could actually affect whether some of their devices, such as the new AirPods 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, can be sold in the country at all.

The US International Trade Commission (USITC) has opened a Section 337 investigation into Apple, Samsung, and Google products with spatial audio features. The complaint comes from BoomCloud 360, a California-based audio technology company, which filed its original complaint with the USITC on August 14 and followed up with a supplemental filing on August 31.

The investigation, tracked as 337-TA-1521, centers on three BoomCloud 360 patents covering spatial audio processing. According to the USITC’s notice of investigation, the patents in question cover things like gain adjustment for spatial and non-spatial audio components, compensation for asymmetries between speakers, and crosstalk processing with corrections for the spectral defects it causes.

BoomCloud 360 is also asking the USITC to issue a Limited Exclusion Order along with cease-and-desist orders, which could block the import and sale of affected devices in the US. That is pretty significant, considering Apple, Google, and Samsung are three of the biggest consumer technology companies in the world, and this order could affect smartphones, earbuds, and TVs alike.

However, it is worth noting that an investigation opened by the USITC does not mean the companies have actually infringed any BoomCloud 360 patent. It will also probably be a while before we get a final decision. Meanwhile, Samsung, Google, and Apple have all filed lawsuits against BoomCloud 360 in federal courts.