Apple Loses $634 Million Apple Watch Patent Case to Masimo

A U.S. federal jury in California has ruled that Apple must pay Masimo Corporation $634 million for infringing a key patent involving blood-oxygen monitoring technology in the Apple Watch, Reuters is reporting.

The jury determined that features such as Apple Watch’s workout mode and heart rate notifications illegally used Masimo’s patented pulse-oximetry technology. Masimo described the verdict as a “significant win” in defending its intellectual property, saying it underscores the value of its innovation in patient-monitoring technology.

Apple, however, strongly disagrees with the ruling and has announced plans to appeal. The company argues that the patent in question expired in 2022 and describes it as tied to older monitoring technology rather than current smartwatch technology.

This decision is part of a larger, protracted legal battle between Apple and Masimo. Masimo has long accused Apple of poaching its talent and using its proprietary blood-oxygen monitoring methods without proper licensing.

In a related move, a U.S. trade tribunal previously blocked the import of Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 models in 2023, citing the same pulse-oximetry patents. Apple later modified its watches and resumed imports after gaining approval from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Masimo has not backed down. In addition to the court victory, the company is suing U.S. Customs over their decision to allow Apple’s revised watches to reenter the U.S. market. Meanwhile, the U.S. International Trade Commission plans to launch a new review to decide whether Apple’s updated watches should face import restrictions.

The legal history between the two companies also includes a separate case in which Apple won a symbolic $250 verdict. In that earlier dispute, a jury found that older Masimo smartwatches infringed on Apple’s design patents, but the award was minimal and applied to discontinued devices.

For Masimo, this $634 million award is more than just a payout. The company says it protects its breakthroughs in medical monitoring and strengthens its position in the technology industry.

Apple is expected to file its appeal soon.