Apple Ordered to Pay Masimo $634 Million in Smartwatch Patent Defeat
The verdict covers an estimated 43 million Apple Watch units sold between 2020 and 2022.
Apple is facing a $634 million bill after a federal jury in California ruled that the Apple Watch infringed on Masimo’s blood oxygen monitoring patent. The case centers on the Watch’s workout mode and heart rate notifications, which the jury found violated Masimo’s intellectual property.
The verdict, which covers an estimated 43 million Apple Watch units sold between 2020 and 2022, is the latest and most expensive chapter in a legal saga defined by accusations of patent theft, trade secret theft, and aggressive corporate maneuvering.
Masimo called the verdict a “significant win” for protecting its technology, highlighting the importance of defending innovations that benefit patients. “We remain committed to defending our IP rights moving forward,” the company said in a statement as seen by Techloy.
Apple, unsurprisingly, disagrees. The company argued that its consumer device could not be categorized as a "patient monitor," a term it insists is typically reserved for continuous clinical devices. A spokesperson said the verdict is “contrary to the facts” and confirmed the company plans to appeal. Apple noted that the patent in question expired in 2022 and pertains to older patient monitoring technology. They also emphasized that Masimo, which doesn’t sell consumer products, has filed multiple lawsuits against Apple over the past six years, and most of the 25+ patents they asserted were found invalid.
Oyinebiladou Omemu
This dispute over pulse oximetry technology has been long-running. Masimo previously accused Apple of poaching employees, including its chief medical officer, to develop competing tech. In 2023, the U.S. International Trade Commission sided with Masimo, temporarily banning Apple from importing Apple Watches with blood oxygen monitoring features. Apple circumvented that ban in August by moving the blood oxygen calculations to the paired iPhone rather than the Watch itself.
Masimo isn’t backing down. The company is now suing U.S. Customs and Border Protection for allowing Apple’s new implementation, while Apple has appealed the original import ban. Apple also scored a minor win in the dispute, winning $250 after a jury found Masimo had infringed Apple’s design patents.
This ongoing saga highlights the growing importance of health tracking technology in the wearable market and the lengths companies are willing to go to protect or challenge it.
Oluwaseun Bamisile
