Not music as Bose sues Beats over patents

28 July 2014 - 02:00 By ©The Sunday Telegraph
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Beats By Dr. Dre headphones designed by Alexander Wang.
Beats By Dr. Dre headphones designed by Alexander Wang.
Image: ©Beats By Dr. Dre

Beats Electronics, the headphones maker bought by Apple for $3.2-billion in May, is being sued by Bose over claims it has infringed patents on noise-cancellation technology.

US audio giant Bose claims that it has lost out on sales and profits because Beats has breached five of its patents connected to blocking out background noise when listening to music on its headphones.

Bose is also attempting to stop Beats' headphones from being imported into the US from China.

"We are committed to protecting our investment, our customers, and defending the patents we own," a Bose representative said.

Beats did not return calls for comment. Founded by music producer Jimmy Iovine and rapper Dr Dre in 2008, Beats controls 27% of the $1.8-billion US headphones market and 57% for "premium" versions.

Bose claims Amar Bose, the company's founder, came up with the idea for its noise-cancelling headphones in 1978 while on a plane. Bose is seeking unspecified damages.

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