Jury Says Apple Owes Masimo $634M for Patent Infringement
News Summary
A federal jury in California has ruled that Apple must pay medical device maker Masimo $634 million for infringing a patent on blood oxygen monitoring technology. The jury found that the Apple Watch’s workout mode and heart rate notification features violated Masimo’s patent, according to reports. Masimo hailed the verdict as a significant win in its ongoing efforts to protect its innovations and intellectual property. Apple, however, plans to appeal, stating that the single patent in question expired in 2022 and pertains to
Background
This verdict marks the latest development in a prolonged legal dispute between Apple and Masimo concerning pulse oximetry technology. Masimo has accused Apple of poaching its employees and infringing its patents related to this blood oxygen monitoring technology. In 2023, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) had sided with Masimo, leading to a ban on importing Apple Watches with blood oxygen monitoring features into the U.S. To circumvent this ban, Apple announced in August 2025 a new version of the feature designed to measure and calculate blood oxygen readings on the user's paired iPhone, rather than the Apple Watch itself. Currently, Masimo is suing U.S. Customs and Border Patrol for approving the import of these Apple Watches with the new implementation, while Apple has asked an appeals court to overturn the original import ban. Notably, Apple had countersued Masimo, winning a design patent infringement verdict, but was only awarded the statutory minimum payment of $250.
In-Depth AI Insights
What are the broader implications of this patent verdict for Apple's intellectual property strategy and future product development? - The verdict underscores potential vulnerabilities in Apple's