By Kelly Cloonan

Cerence has filed a copyright infringement suit against Microsoft and Nuance Communications regarding its text-to-speech technology.

The Burlington, Mass. company, which builds artificial-intelligence offerings for the automotive industry, said Tuesday the lawsuit is necessary to protect its investments.

The company said its text-to-speech technology is a foundational part of its work with automakers, transportation equipment manufacturers and other partners.

"We are deeply committed to having our intellectual property rights respected and enforced, especially as we continue to expand to new markets beyond automotive," said Jennifer Salinas, chief administrative officer and general counsel.

Representatives for Microsoft couldn't be immediately reached for comment.

Microsoft acquired Nuance in April 2021, building on a partnership between the companies announced in October 2019. Nuance provides AI and cloud-based solutions, including clinical speech recognition, for healthcare providers.

Cerence was previously a part of Nuance, and spun off as an independent company in October 2019.

Write to Kelly Cloonan at kelly.cloonan@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

May 06, 2025 18:39 ET (22:39 GMT)

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