Apple Must Pay Masimo $634M for Watch Patent Infringement

A federal jury in California ruled on Friday that Apple must pay medical technology company Masimo $634 million in damages for infringing a patent related to blood oxygen monitoring in certain Apple Watch models. The decision, which Apple plans to appeal, comes amid an escalating patent dispute that also prompted the U.S. International Trade Commission to launch a new investigation into whether Apple's redesigned smartwatches violate Masimo's intellectual property rights.

The jury found that features in Apple Watches sold between 2020 and 2022, including workout mode and heart rate notifications, infringed Masimo's pulse oximetry patent. Jurors also determined that some of these devices qualify as patient monitors under the patent's scope, rejecting Apple's argument that the watches do not provide continuous clinical monitoring. The verdict awards damages for approximately 43 million units affected.

Masimo hailed the ruling as a significant victory. "This underscores the value of our innovation in patient monitoring technology," the company stated. Apple, however, described the decision as contrary to the facts and vowed to challenge it on appeal. A company spokesperson noted...