Apple vs. Masimo: Jury Decision in Patent Dispute
In a recent jury decision, Apple claimed victory over Masimo in a patent dispute involving smartwatch designs.
image for illustrative purpose
Apple convinced a federal jury on Friday that earlier versions of Masimo’s smartwatches infringed two of its design patents.
This ruling is part of an ongoing intellectual property dispute between the two companies.
The jury, located in Delaware, found that Masimo’s W1 and Freedom watches and chargers willfully violated Apple’s patent rights.
However, the jury awarded Apple only $250 in damages. This amount is the statutory minimum for infringement in the United States.
Apple's attorneys stated that the main goal of the lawsuit was not financial compensation but rather to obtain an injunction against the sale of Masimo's smartwatches.
The jury also ruled that Masimo’s current smartwatches did not infringe on Apple’s patents for technologies that Apple claimed Masimo copied.
Masimo thanked the jury for its decision. They noted that the verdict supported Masimo on most points. The decision only concerned a "discontinued module and charger."
Masimo pointed out that the jury rejected Apple’s request for an injunction against their current products.
Apple was pleased with the jury's verdict. They stated it would help protect the innovations they create for their customers.
Masimo, based in Irvine, California, accused Apple of hiring its employees and stealing its pulse oximetry technology after discussing a possible collaboration.
Last year, Masimo convinced the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to block imports of Apple’s Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches.
The ITC found that Apple's blood oxygen reading technology infringed Masimo’s patents.
Apple has appealed this decision and resumed selling the watches after removing the disputed technology.
In 2022, Apple countersued Masimo, claiming that Masimo copied features from the Apple Watch for its smartwatches.
Apple also accused Masimo of using lawsuits in the ITC and California to create a path for its own smartwatch.
Masimo called Apple’s patent lawsuit “retaliatory” and an attempt to avoid the court where the two parties have been litigating their dispute.
