Apple has suffered a significant legal setback after a federal jury in California ruled that the tech giant must pay $634 million to medical device manufacturer, Masimo, for infringing its blood-oxygen monitoring patent.
The jury found that features on the Apple Watch, including its workout mode and heart rate notification system, unlawfully incorporated technology protected under Masimo’s intellectual property.
“This is a significant win in our ongoing efforts to protect our innovations and intellectual property, which is crucial to our ability to develop technology that benefits patients,” Masimo said in a statement.
“We remain committed to defending our IP rights moving forward.”
Masimo’s chief executive officer has long claimed that Apple used the company’s proprietary research to enhance the Apple Watch, giving it an unfair competitive edge in the growing health-tech sector.
Monday’s ruling marks the most significant win for Masimo in the battle to protect its patents.
An Apple spokesperson said in a statement that the verdict was “contrary to the facts” and that the company plans to appeal.
“Masimo is a medical device company that does not sell any products to consumers,” the spokesperson said.
“Over the past six years, they have sued Apple in multiple courts and asserted over 25 patents, the majority of which are invalid. The single patent in this case expired in 2022 and is specific to historic patient monitoring technology from decades ago.”
The verdict comes after years of legal battles between the two companies.
Masimo has repeatedly accused Apple of copying its health-monitoring innovations and hiring away key employees to fast-track development of the Apple Watch’s medical capabilities.
However, Apple has denied wrongdoing on the matter.
