A federal jury in California has ruled that Apple must pay Masimo $634 million for infringing its patent covering blood-oxygen reading technology. The jury agreed that the Apple Watch’s workout mode and heart rate notifications violated Masimo’s patent rights.
A spokesperson for Masimo called the verdict “a significant win in our ongoing efforts to protect our innovations and intellectual property.” Apple, however, has stated that it disagrees with the decision and will appeal.
The ruling is part of a larger, multi-front legal battle between Apple and Irvine, California-based Masimo. The company alleges that Apple hired away its employees and used its pulse oximetry technology in Apple Watches without permission.
In 2023, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) blocked imports of Apple’s Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches after finding infringement on Masimo patents. Apple removed the blood-oxygen technology to avoid the ban and later reintroduced an updated version in August with approval from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
The ITC announced it will hold a new proceeding to decide whether Apple’s updated watches should face a renewed import ban. Meanwhile, Masimo has filed a separate lawsuit against U.S. Customs regarding the decision. Apple is also challenging the import restrictions in a federal appeals court.
Previously, a California judge declared a mistrial in Masimo’s trade-secret case against Apple in 2023 after the jury could not reach a unanimous verdict. In Delaware last year, Apple won a minimal $250 verdict against Masimo over claims that the company’s smartwatches infringed Apple design patents.
This latest ruling underscores the ongoing tension between Apple and Masimo over intellectual property, highlighting the high stakes in the competitive medical-monitoring and wearable technology markets.
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