A federal jury in California delivered a major verdict this Friday, ordering Apple to pay medical technology firm Masimo $634 million. The ruling concludes that Apple infringed on patents related to blood oxygen-monitoring technology integrated into Apple Watch devices.
The Verdict: Patent Infringement in Wearables
As detailed by Reuters, the jury determined that specific features within the Apple Watch—namely the workout mode and heart rate notification systems—violated Masimo’s intellectual property. This decision marks a significant escalation in the ongoing legal battle between the two companies regarding pulse oximetry technology, which utilizes optical sensors to track blood flow.
Masimo celebrated the outcome as a victory for innovation. “This is a significant win in our ongoing efforts to protect our innovations and intellectual property, which is crucial to our ability to develop technology that benefits patients,” the company stated in an official release.
Apple’s Defense and Planned Appeal
Apple has staunchly rejected the jury’s findings, characterizing the verdict as “contrary to the facts.” A spokesperson for the tech giant confirmed plans to appeal the decision, noting that Masimo’s legal strategy has been aggressive and largely unsuccessful in other venues.
“Masimo is a medical device company that does not sell any products to consumers,” the Apple spokesperson noted. “Over the past six years, they have sued Apple in multiple courts and asserted over 25 patents, the majority of which have been found to be invalid. The single patent in this case expired in 2022 and is specific to historic patient monitoring technology from decades ago.”
A Long-Standing Legal Conflict
The friction between the two entities extends beyond simple patent claims. Masimo has previously accused Apple of poaching key personnel, including its former chief medical officer, to bolster its health-tech development. This history of litigation has already had tangible effects on the consumer market:
- Import Bans: In 2023, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled in favor of Masimo, leading to a ban on Apple Watches featuring blood oxygen-monitoring capabilities.
- Workarounds: To circumvent the import restrictions, Apple announced in August that it would shift the blood oxygen calculation process from the watch hardware to the user’s paired iPhone.
- Ongoing Litigation: Masimo is currently suing U.S. Customs and Border Protection over the approval of these modified imports, while Apple has petitioned an appeals court to overturn the original import ban entirely.
While the $634 million judgment represents a major blow to Apple, the company did secure a minor victory in a countersuit. A jury found that Masimo violated Apple’s design patents, resulting in a statutory minimum award of $250 for the tech giant.