Apple must pay Masimo $630M for violating blood-oxygen tech patent
What's the story
A federal jury in California has ordered tech giant Apple to pay $634 million to medical device manufacturer Masimo. The ruling comes after it was found that Apple had infringed on a patent related to blood oxygen monitoring technology. The jury determined that features like the workout mode and heart rate notifications on the Apple Watch violated Masimo's patent rights.
Reaction
Masimo's response to the jury's decision
Masimo hailed the verdict as a "significant win in our ongoing efforts to protect our innovations and intellectual property." The company had sought royalties between $634 million and $749 million, while Apple argued that damages should be limited to between $3 million and $6 million. The case involves whether Apple misappropriated medical-grade monitoring technology for consumer wearables.
Legal strategy
Apple's appeal and patent expiration
Apple plans to appeal the verdict, arguing that the patent in question expired in 2022 and is specific to historic patient monitoring technology from decades ago. The company also highlighted that Masimo has "sued Apple in multiple courts and asserted over 25 patents, many of which have been found to be invalid." This legal battle has already affected Apple's products.
Trade impact
International Trade Commission's ban on apple watch imports
In 2023, the US International Trade Commission banned the import of certain Apple Watch models after finding patent infringement. This forced Apple to remove blood oxygen monitoring features from its devices. The company later introduced a redesigned version as part of its efforts with approval from the US Customs and Border Protection.