A recent ruling by the U.S. International Trade Commission dealt a setback to Masimo in its ongoing legal battle with Apple over Apple Watch imports. The tribunal declined to review a preliminary decision stating that Apple’s redesigned smartwatches no longer infringe Masimo’s patents related to blood-oxygen monitoring technology. As a result, Masimo’s attempt to reinstate an import ban on Apple Watches was denied, allowing Apple to continue selling its updated devices in the U.S.
This dispute stems from a long-running conflict in which Masimo accused Apple of poaching employees and misusing proprietary pulse-oximetry technology. In 2023, the ITC had originally banned imports of certain Apple Watch models after finding patent infringement. In response, Apple modified its devices by removing the blood-oxygen feature and later reintroducing a redesigned version approved by U.S. regulators. The updated watches now display blood-oxygen data on connected devices like the iPhone instead of directly on the watch.
Despite this latest decision, the legal fight is far from over. Masimo retains the option to appeal the ruling to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and is pursuing separate legal actions, including a lawsuit against U.S. Customs and additional claims of patent infringement and trade-secret theft in federal court. In a separate case, Masimo previously secured a $634 million verdict against Apple, which Apple has indicated it plans to appeal, signaling that the broader dispute between the two companies will likely continue.
Source: Reuters
