Jury says Apple owes Masimo $634M for patent infringement

Federal Jury Orders Apple to Pay Masimo $634 Million in Patent Infringement Case

Following a ruling by a federal jury in California, Apple has been ordered to pay medical device maker Masimo a staggering $634 million for infringing on a patent related to blood oxygen monitoring technology.

The jury found that certain features of the Apple Watch, including the workout mode and heart rate notification functionalities, violated Masimo’s patent, as reported by Reuters.

In response to the verdict, Masimo expressed satisfaction in the decision, emphasizing the importance of protecting their innovations and intellectual property to continue developing technologies that benefit patients. The company stated in a press release that they are committed to defending their IP rights in the future.

Apple, on the other hand, intends to appeal the ruling, citing that the patent in question expired in 2022 and pertains to outdated patient monitoring technology. A spokesperson from Apple informed Reuters that they will challenge the decision in court.

The legal battle between Masimo and Apple revolves around pulse oximetry technology, which involves using an optical sensor to measure blood flow. Masimo has accused Apple of poaching its employees, including the chief medical officer, and infringing on patents related to pulse oximetry.

In a related development, the U.S. International Trade Commission ruled in favor of Masimo in 2023, resulting in a ban on Apple importing Apple Watches with blood oxygen monitoring capabilities. As a result, Apple Watches have not featured blood oxygen monitoring in recent iterations.

Latest Developments and Ongoing Disputes

In August of this year, Apple announced a new version of the blood oxygen monitoring feature that circumvents the import ban. The updated feature now calculates blood oxygen readings on the user’s paired iPhone rather than directly on the Apple Watch.

Furthermore, Masimo has initiated legal action against U.S. Customs and Border Patrol for permitting the import of Apple Watches with the modified blood oxygen feature. Conversely, Apple has appealed to a higher court to lift the import ban imposed by the U.S. International Trade Commission.

In a tit-for-tat move, Apple filed a countersuit against Masimo, resulting in a nominal payment of $250 after a jury concluded that Masimo had infringed on Apple’s design patents.