Apple Must Pay Masimo $634 Million in Smartwatch Patent Case

Apple Ordered to Pay $634 Million in Smartwatch Patent Case

A federal jury in California has ruled that Apple must pay medical technology firm Masimo $634 million for patent infringement related to blood-oxygen monitoring technology in Apple Watches.

Key Takeaways

• Apple found liable for $634 million in patent damages to Masimo
• Infringement involves blood-oxygen reading technology in Apple Watches
• Apple disagrees with verdict and plans to appeal
• Ongoing legal battle spans multiple courts and trade disputes

Patent Violation Details

The jury determined that Apple Watch’s workout mode and heart rate notification features violated Masimo’s patent rights. A Masimo spokesperson confirmed the jury agreed with their patent infringement claims.

Company Responses

An Apple spokesperson stated the company “disagrees with the verdict and will appeal.” Meanwhile, Masimo called the decision “a significant win in our ongoing efforts to protect our innovations and intellectual property.”

Broader Legal Conflict

This California lawsuit represents one aspect of an extensive patent battle between the two companies. Masimo has accused Apple of hiring away its employees and appropriating its pulse oximetry technology for use in Apple Watches.

Previous Trade Restrictions

The dispute previously led a U.S. trade tribunal to block imports of Apple’s Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches in 2023. Apple responded by removing blood-oxygen reading technology from its watches to avoid the ban, later reintroducing an updated version in August with U.S. Customs and Border Protection approval.

Ongoing Proceedings

The International Trade Commission separately decided on Friday to hold new proceedings to determine whether Apple’s updated watches should be subject to the import ban. Masimo has filed an ongoing lawsuit against Customs over their decision, while Apple has challenged the import ban at a federal appeals court.

Related Legal History

A California judge declared a mistrial in Masimo’s trade-secret case against Apple in 2023 when the jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict. Separately, Apple won a minimal $250 verdict against Masimo in Delaware last year over allegations that Masimo’s smartwatches infringed two Apple design patents.