Judge awards Apple a token $250 in his latest Masimo lawsuit

The legal battles between Apple and Masimo have now taken a small step forward

A Delaware jury has found smartwatch maker Masimo guilty of infringing on Apple’s Apple Watch patents on the health technology, but limited it to older smartwatch models that are no longer sold and awarded the company the smallest damages it legally could.

In the suit just decided, Apple accused Masimo in 2022, it infringed two of its own design patents to “make room for its own watch”. The jury has now found Masimo guilty of the charge over Masimo’s former Freedom and W1 smartwatches, but said the company was not guilty of infringing any current products.

Granted Apple a token $250 in damagesthe legal minimum for the violation. Apple’s lawyers sought an injunction against current Masimo products that were said to infringe Apple’s patents, but that charge was rejected by the jury. Reuters he reported.

Apple said in a statement that it was pleased the decision “will protect the innovations we advance on behalf of our customers.” Masimo said that “Apple first sought an injunction against Masimo’s current products, and the jury’s verdict is a victory for Masimo on this issue.”

Citing the Apple lawsuit as retaliation, Masimo noted that the jury ruled on his behalf on “almost” all of the issues in dispute and that the patent infringement decision only applied to “a broken module and charger.”

Why current Apple Watch models lack blood oxygen readings

The two companies have been engaged in a battle over smartwatch health technology. Masimo has previously accused Apple of employing its employees and copying aspects of its pulse oximetry technology following failed collaboration talks.

Masimo scored a significant victory in its claims in 2023 when the US International Trade Commission imports temporarily blocked of the Apple Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches. Apple is appealing that verdict, but has complied with the ITC’s ruling by disabling the feature.

Then he was able to resume Apple Watch sales. Current models of the Apple Watch continue to include the blood oxygen sensing technology, but it remains disabled until the dispute is resolved.

Users with older Apple Watch models up to Apple Watch Series 8 can still use the disputed blood oxygen measurement feature.

Apple could appeal the decision, forcing the dispute to settle for more time. Masimo has now won decisive victories against Apple with both the ITC and a jury trial, which may be enough to make Apple executives rethink their current legal strategy.

Separately, Masimo’s CEO stepped down from his role in September 2024. Joe Kiani’s move was unrelated to the Apple Watch dispute, however.