Doppler Labs Inc., maker of the Here One smart earbuds, has filed a lawsuit against Bose Corp. claiming that the audio electronics company’s Hearphones copy the design and features of Doppler’s own products.

Founded in 2013, Doppler specializes in smart earbuds that allow wearers to listen to music or take calls while still hearing important sounds around them. The company boasts that users can adjust the sensitivity of its “Here Buds” to change just how much sound is allowed through, from blocking almost all sound to allowing quiet conversations.

In a new court filing, Doppler Labs claims that Bose’s Hearphones copied its earbud technology. Doppler accuses Bose of “unfair and deceptive business practices,” which includes “marketing, distribution and sale of in-ear headphones that infringe the trademark rights of Doppler Labs, Inc.”

Doppler also claims in its suit that Chris Miller, Bose’s senior manager of idea and portfolio management, backed the Kickstarter for Doppler’s Here One in order to gain access to the technology early.

“Now, on information and  belief, it appears that this was not an investment by Mr. Miller simply to get a new and differentiated type of audio product than Bose could deliver, for his personal use, but rather an attempt to gain early access to a competitor’s technology,” Doppler says in its suit.

Doppler says that it also met with Bose in August and September to discuss a potential partnership deal between the two companies, but now Doppler claims that Bose used these meetings to gain information about its products. During these meetings, Doppler says it disclosed “its proprietary technology, market approach and positioning, product capabilities, and product road map.”

“Had Doppler Labs known of Bose’s true purposes, or of Bose’s intention to sell the competing Hearphones product, it would not have made these disclosures,” the filing says.

Bose’s product does bear a strong resemblance to Doppler’s Here Buds, but they are also not the only augmented hearing devices on the market, and it is unclear how valid Doppler’s claims are. While consumer applications for this technology are fairly new, augmented hearing protection systems, such as Invisio’s TCAPS, have been in use by the military for some time, so Doppler may have a tough time proving its case.

SiliconANGLE has reached out to Bose for comment on the lawsuit and will update the story with it response.

Photo: Doppler Labs