Apple ordered to pay Masimo $634 million in smartwatch patent case, iPhone maker 'disagrees'
A federal jury in California ruled on Friday (November 14) that Apple owes medical-monitoring technology company Masimo $634 million after finding that the tech giant infringed on a patent related to blood-oxygen reading technology. The jury sided with Masimo, confirming that features within the Apple Watch, specifically its workout mode and heart rate notification functions, violated Masimo's patent rights, as per a report by news agency Reuters.
Apple says it disagrees and vows to appeal
Following the verdict, an Apple spokesperson stated that the company “disagrees with the verdict and will appeal.”
Masimo, meanwhile, hailed the decision as a critical victory in its ongoing legal fight against the Cupertino-based company. A Masimo spokesperson called the outcome “a significant win in our ongoing efforts to protect our innovations and intellectual property.”
The California lawsuit is part of a wider intellectual property dispute between Apple and Masimo. The medical technology firm has repeatedly accused Apple of poaching its employees and stealing its pulse oximetry technology for use in the Apple Watch.
The dispute previously resulted in the US International Trade Commission (ITC) blocking imports of Apple's Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in 2023. Apple temporarily removed the blood-oxygen reading technology from its watches to comply with the ban.
It later reintroduced an updated version of the watches after receiving approval from US Customs and Border Protection in August.
In a related development, the ITC has decided to launch a new proceeding to determine whether Apple's updated watches should also be subject to the import ban. Masimo has filed an ongoing lawsuit challenging Customs' decision to allow the updated watches back into the US Apple is separately challenging the original 2023 import ban at a federal appeals court.
The two companies have also faced off in other venues: A California judge declared a mistrial in Masimo's broader trade-secret case against Apple in 2023, and Apple secured a minimal $250 verdict against Masimo last year in Delaware over design patents.
Apple says it disagrees and vows to appeal
Following the verdict, an Apple spokesperson stated that the company “disagrees with the verdict and will appeal.”
Masimo, meanwhile, hailed the decision as a critical victory in its ongoing legal fight against the Cupertino-based company. A Masimo spokesperson called the outcome “a significant win in our ongoing efforts to protect our innovations and intellectual property.”
The California lawsuit is part of a wider intellectual property dispute between Apple and Masimo. The medical technology firm has repeatedly accused Apple of poaching its employees and stealing its pulse oximetry technology for use in the Apple Watch.
The dispute previously resulted in the US International Trade Commission (ITC) blocking imports of Apple's Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in 2023. Apple temporarily removed the blood-oxygen reading technology from its watches to comply with the ban.
It later reintroduced an updated version of the watches after receiving approval from US Customs and Border Protection in August.
In a related development, the ITC has decided to launch a new proceeding to determine whether Apple's updated watches should also be subject to the import ban. Masimo has filed an ongoing lawsuit challenging Customs' decision to allow the updated watches back into the US Apple is separately challenging the original 2023 import ban at a federal appeals court.
The two companies have also faced off in other venues: A California judge declared a mistrial in Masimo's broader trade-secret case against Apple in 2023, and Apple secured a minimal $250 verdict against Masimo last year in Delaware over design patents.
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