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Amazon faces ITC probe after Cerence files patent complaint over Echo and Fire TV devices
The voice AI company is seeking to block imports of Amazon's smart speakers, streaming devices, and tablets, alleging patent infringement on conversational voice technology.
The US International Trade Commission has officially launched an investigation into Amazon after Cerence Inc., a conversational AI voice technology company, filed a complaint alleging patent infringement across a wide swath of Amazon’s consumer electronics lineup.
The probe targets some of Amazon’s most recognizable hardware products: Echo smart speakers, Fire TVs, smart displays, tablets, and streaming devices. Cerence is seeking a limited exclusion order that would bar the importation of these devices into the US.
What Cerence is claiming
Cerence (NASDAQ: CRNC) originally filed its complaint with the ITC on May 5, 2026, then supplemented it on May 12-13. The company builds AI-powered voice assistants primarily for the automotive industry.
The complaint invokes Section 337 of the Tariff Act of 1930, a trade law that lets companies ask the ITC to block imports of products that infringe US patents. Unlike a traditional patent lawsuit where you sue for money, an ITC exclusion order physically stops products at the border.
The ITC formally instituted its Section 337 investigation in early June 2026, with the notice taking effect around June 5. Amazon now has a 20-day window from the date of service to respond to the complaint.
Cerence has also filed parallel lawsuits in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, where it’s seeking monetary damages.
This isn’t Cerence’s first rodeo
In August 2025, the company filed a similar ITC complaint against Sony and TCL over smart TVs that it alleged used comparable voice technologies without proper licensing.
Cerence’s share price jumped 18.6% shortly after the Amazon complaint was announced.
What this means for Amazon and investors
A typical Section 337 investigation runs 12 to 18 months from start to finish, meaning a final determination likely wouldn’t come until sometime in 2027 or early 2028.
If the ITC ultimately grants Cerence’s exclusion order, Amazon could find itself unable to import key products in its smart home ecosystem into the US market.