Are Apple Watches just copies?
In a surprising turn of events, Apple finds itself entangled in a patent dispute with Masimo
image for illustrative purpose
In a surprising turn of events, Apple finds itself entangled in a patent dispute with Masimo, a medical corporation, jeopardizing the sale of its popular Apple Watch this holiday season.
The dispute traces back to 2013 when Masimo pioneered a breakthrough in medtech, addressing the issue of inaccurate blood oxygen measurements. Apple, in its early foray into wearables, sought to collaborate with Masimo to incorporate this technology into its products. However, the partnership took an unexpected turn as Apple allegedly poached key employees and began filing patents similar to Masimo's.
Masimo, realizing the breach of confidentiality, initially requested Apple to refrain from leveraging trade secrets obtained through former employees. When Apple released devices featuring the contested technology, Masimo escalated the matter, filing a lawsuit in 2020. The jury reached a deadlock, prompting Masimo to file a complaint with the US Trade Commission in 2021.
The recent ruling favored Masimo, asserting that Apple violated its patents, potentially hindering the sale of Apple Watches. This development poses a significant threat to Apple's Wearables, Home, and Accessories business, which generates over $40 billion annually, with 40% attributed to Watches alone.
Apple's history of aggressive tactics and a reputation for strong-arming smaller players has been highlighted in previous incidents, such as the case with AliveCor in 2016. In this ongoing David vs. Goliath battle, Masimo, a $6 billion company, takes on the tech giant valued at $3 trillion, with the outcome poised to shape the dynamics of patent disputes in the tech industry. The clash between the two entities is anticipated to unfold as a battle for innovation, with industry observers closely watching the proceedings. As of now, Apple has halted the sale of Apple Watch Series 9 Apple Watch Ultra 2 in the US till the Biden administration will announce its decision by December 25, 2023.
Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/106148069.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
Read more at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/106148069.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
