Apple Wins Jury Verdict In Delaware Court On Smartwatch Patent Case Against Masimo

Apple Wins Jury Verdict In Delaware Court On Smartwatch Patent Case Against Masimo

States that the decision would protect the innovations it advances for customers

Apple has convinced a federal jury in Delaware that the early versions of the smartwatches of health monitoring tech firm Masimo infringed its two design patents as part of a broader intellectual property dispute between the companies.

The jury agreed with the tech giant that previous iterations of Irvine, California-based Masimo's W1 and Freedom watches and chargers willfully violated Apple's patent rights in smartwatch designs. However, it awarded Apple (worth about $3.5 trillion) just $250 in damages - the statutory minimum for infringement in the US.

The attorneys for Apple told the court that the company’s ultimate purpose was not money, but to win an injunction against sales of Masimo's smartwatches after an infringement ruling.

Meanwhile, the jury determined that Masimo's current watches did not infringe Apple patents covering inventions that the tech giant had accused Masimo of copying.

Appreciating the jury’s verdict, Masimo stated that the ruling was, "in favor of Masimo and against Apple on nearly all issues. The decision only applied to a discontinued module and charger. Apple primarily sought an injunction against our current products, and the verdict is a victory for us.”

Apple said, “We are glad the jury's decision will protect the innovations we advance on behalf of our customers."

Masimo had accused Apple of taking away its employees and stealing its pulse oximetry technology after a potential collaboration.

In 2023, it convinced the US International Trade Commission (ITC) to block imports of Apple's Series 9 and Ultra 2 smartwatches after the Commission noted that its technology for reading blood oxygen levels infringed Masimo's patents.

Meanwhile, Apple has appealed the decision and resumed selling the watches after removing the technology. In 2022, it countersued Masimo for patent infringement of its smartwatch’s features.

Apple also accused its opponent of using lawsuits at the ITC and California to "make way for Masimo's watch."

Masimo said Apple's patent lawsuit was "retaliatory and an attempt to avoid the court in which the parties have been litigating."