New York: A federal jury ruled in favor of Apple on Friday, concluding that earlier versions of Masimo’s smartwatches infringed two of Apple’s design patents. This decision is part of an ongoing intellectual property dispute between the tech giant and the health monitoring technology company.
The jury, convened in Delaware, determined that the previous models of Masimo’s W1 and Freedom smartwatches and their chargers willfully violated Apple’s patent rights. However, the jury awarded Apple a mere $250 in damages, which represents the statutory minimum for patent infringement in the United States.
Apple’s legal team clarified that the primary aim of their lawsuit was not financial gain but rather to secure an injunction against the sales of Masimo’s smartwatches following the infringement ruling. On this aspect, the jury found that Masimo’s current smartwatch offerings did not infringe on the patents that Apple had accused them of copying.
In response, Masimo expressed appreciation for the jury’s verdict, which they interpreted as a win on nearly all fronts. The company emphasized that the decision pertained only to a “discontinued module and charger.” They noted that Apple had primarily sought an injunction against Masimo’s current products, suggesting that the jury’s verdict represented a significant victory for Masimo on that issue.
Apple, on its part, welcomed the jury’s decision, asserting that it would help protect the innovations they pursue for their customers.
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Masimo, based in Irvine, California, has previously accused Apple of poaching its employees and stealing its pulse oximetry technology following discussions for a potential collaboration. Last year, Masimo successfully persuaded the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) to block the importation of Apple’s Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches after the commission determined that their blood oxygen monitoring technology infringed upon Masimo’s patents.
Apple has since appealed the ITC decision and resumed sales of the watches after removing the disputed technology. Additionally, Apple countersued Masimo in 2022, alleging that Masimo had copied features from the Apple Watch for use in its own smartwatches. Apple further accused Masimo of leveraging lawsuits at the ITC and in California to create an opportunity for its smartwatch.
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Masimo characterized Apple’s patent lawsuit as “retaliatory” and suggested it was an attempt to evade the court where the two companies have been engaged in litigation over their ongoing dispute.
