US Jury Orders Apple to Compensate Masimo $634 Million in Patent Dispute
A federal jury has mandated that Apple pay a staggering $634 million to Masimo, a company specializing in medical monitoring technologies. The decision, reached in a California courtroom, stems from allegations that Apple infringed upon Masimo’s patented technology for blood-oxygen monitoring.
Key Highlights
- The jury found in favor of Masimo, affirming that Apple had violated its patent rights.
- Masimo lauded the verdict as a significant endorsement of its claims.
- An Apple spokesperson indicated discontent with the ruling and the intent to appeal.
What Lies Ahead for Apple?
In response to the jury’s decision, an Apple representative expressed the company’s disagreement with the verdict, asserting plans to pursue an appeal.
Masimo’s Perspective
Masimo heralded the ruling as a pivotal victory in its relentless pursuit to safeguard its innovations and intellectual property rights.
The Background of the Case
This conflict traces back to 2020, when Masimo accused Apple of enticing its employees away to gain competitive leverage, alleging that such practices facilitated the unauthorized use of its pulse oximetry technology within Apple Watch devices.
This case forms part of a broader, contentious patent skirmish between the two companies, with Masimo claiming infringement on technology that has become integral to various iterations of the Apple Watch.
Furthermore, Masimo accused Apple of utilizing its proprietary expertise to seamlessly integrate its patented blood-oxygen technology without authorization. In a counter-move, Apple filed a lawsuit against Masimo in 2022, asserting that the latter’s W1 and Freedom smartwatches violated Apple’s design patents.
The skirmish intensified as both enterprises levied accusations of deploying legal maneuvers to dominate the smartwatch market.
Consequently, a U.S. trade tribunal issued a prohibition against imports of Apple’s Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches for 2023, having found that Apple’s technology encroached upon Masimo’s patents.
Apple, in an effort to circumvent this ban, eliminated the blood-oxygen functionality from its watches, later reintroducing a revised version with the endorsement of U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Meanwhile, Masimo has lodged a lawsuit against Customs regarding this matter, while Apple has contested the import ban in a federal appellate court.
Chronology of Disputes
The initial legal confrontation commenced in 2020, when Masimo filed a lawsuit alleging misconduct involving employee solicitation and patent infringement.
In 2021, Masimo escalated its grievances, presenting its case to the International Trade Commission (ITC) specifically concerning the Apple Watch Series 6. Subsequently, in 2023, the ITC imposed a ban on the importation of Apple’s Series 9 and Ultra 2 models.
As of August 2025, Apple reintroduced an enhanced blood-oxygen monitoring feature, only for a California jury to determine on November 15, 2025, that Masimo deserved $634 million in damages.
Source link: Etnownews.com.
