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A federal jury has ordered Apple to pay $634 million after finding the company infringed patents held by medical-device maker Masimo. The ruling targets Apple Watch features tied to heart-rate notifications and workout monitoring, and it has reignited concerns over a possible U.S. import ban for certain Apple Watch models.
Verdict zeroes in on heart-rate tools as Apple disputes the claim
Jurors concluded that Apple’s workout mode and heart-rate notification functions violated Masimo patents. Masimo called the decision a "major win" in its long-running bid to protect innovations that monitor patient health. Apple pushed back, noting the patent at issue expired in 2022 and saying it covers older patient-monitoring technology.
Why this matters beyond the damages
Beyond the $634 million award, the ruling could trigger trade enforcement consequences. The U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) is reviewing whether Apple’s software workaround—which shifts some blood-oxygen processing to the iPhone—still infringes Masimo’s patents. If the ITC finds infringement, it could again block certain Apple Watch imports into the United States.
A long-running dispute over blood-oxygen tech
The clash between Masimo and Apple centers on blood-oxygen monitoring and related IP. Masimo alleges Apple recruited its engineers and used their patents to develop competing features. In 2023 the ITC sided with Masimo and issued a ban on Apple Watches with blood-oxygen monitoring technology.
Apple later introduced a feature designed to evade that ban by performing oxygen-level calculations on a paired iPhone instead of on the watch itself. Masimo challenged that workaround, pressing U.S. customs and border authorities after shipments cleared with the new setup.
Industry fallout: innovation, partnerships and power dynamics
The case raises broader questions about how large tech firms partner with smaller innovators and how IP is protected. A Wall Street Journal report quoted Masimo’s CEO saying Apple’s attention to small companies can be "a kiss of death." For Apple, the verdict is both a financial hit and a legal headache as the ITC weighs whether to extend or reinstate import restrictions.
For consumers and investors, the coming weeks will be key: Will Apple appeal, tweak the Apple Watch again, or face renewed import limits? Expect more filings, potential appeals, and continued scrutiny over how wearable health features are developed and defended.
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