Apple Hit With $634M Verdict in Masimo Patent Dispute

A federal jury in California has ordered Apple to pay $634 million to Masimo after finding that features in the Apple Watch infringed on the medical-technology company’s blood-oxygen monitoring patent. The decision concludes that Apple’s workout mode and heart rate notification tools violated Masimo’s intellectual property, according to a spokesperson for the company.

Apple says it strongly disagrees with the ruling and will appeal. The tech giant noted that Masimo has pursued more than two dozen patent claims against Apple over the past six years, most of which were deemed invalid. Apple also stressed that the patent at the center of this case expired in 2022 and applies to older, traditional patient-monitoring technology.

Masimo celebrated the verdict, calling it a major step toward protecting its long-standing innovations. The lawsuit is part of a broader legal battle that has intensified tensions between the two companies. Masimo has accused Apple of poaching its employees and misappropriating its pulse oximetry technology for use in Apple Watch models.

The ongoing dispute previously contributed to a U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) decision that temporarily blocked imports of the Apple Watch Series 9 and Ultra 2 in 2023. The ban was based on findings that Apple’s blood-oxygen technology infringed Masimo’s patents. To sidestep the import halt, Apple removed the pulse-oximetry feature from affected watches and later released an updated version approved by U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

However, the ITC announced it will reassess whether Apple’s updated models should still face restrictions. Masimo has also taken legal action against Customs over its approval decision, while Apple continues to challenge the ITC’s original import ruling in federal court.

This long-running dispute has seen mixed results on both sides. A separate trade-secret trial in California ended in a mistrial in 2023, and Apple won only $250 in a Delaware case claiming Masimo’s devices infringed two Apple design patents.