Apple Ordered to Pay $634M for Infringing Masimo's Blood Oxygen Patent

In a significant legal development, a federal jury in California has ordered tech giant Apple to pay $634 million to medical device manufacturer Masimo. The jury found that Apple's Apple Watch features, including the workout mode and heart rate notification functions, had infringed on a Masimo patent related to blood oxygen monitoring technology.

Masimo, a leading provider of innovative medical devices, has hailed this verdict as a crucial win in its ongoing efforts to safeguard its intellectual property and innovations. The company stated that protecting its patents is essential to its ability to develop cutting-edge technologies that benefit patients.

However, Apple has vowed to appeal the decision, arguing that the patent in question expired in 2022 and is specific to outdated patient monitoring technology from decades ago. The tech giant maintains that it plans to continue defending its position and fighting the ruling.

This legal dispute between Masimo and Apple has been ongoing, with the U.S. International Trade Commission previously siding with Masimo in 2023. The commission had banned the import of Apple Watches with blood oxygen monitoring features, leading Apple to introduce a new version of the feature designed to circumvent the ban.

As the legal battle continues, both companies remain committed to their respective stances, underscoring the high stakes involved in the protection of intellectual property rights in the rapidly evolving wearable technology industry.