On Friday, a California federal jury ruled that Apple must pay medical-tech company Masimo $634 million for infringing a patent on blood-oxygen reading technology in the Apple Watch ⌚️💸.
The jury found that Apple Watch’s workout mode and heart rate notifications violated Masimo’s patent rights, a Masimo spokesperson confirmed. This verdict marks a big win in Masimo’s fight to protect its pulse oximetry innovations.
Apple disagrees with the decision and announced it will appeal. Masimo hailed the verdict as a significant win in its ongoing efforts to protect its innovations and intellectual property.
This case is just one front in a multi-year battle: in 2023, a U.S. trade tribunal blocked imports of Apple’s Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches over the same technology dispute. Apple briefly removed the blood-oxygen feature, then reintroduced an updated version in August with Customs approval. The U.S. International Trade Commission is now set to review whether the updated watches should face a similar ban.
Meanwhile, Apple and Masimo continue to duke it out in federal appeals courts and Customs lawsuits. It’s a reminder that even our everyday gadgets can spark major legal showdowns. What do you think this means for the future of wearables? Drop your thoughts below!
Reference(s):
U.S. jury says Apple must pay Masimo $634m in smartwatch patent case
cgtn.com
