Apple has convinced a federal jury that early versions of Masimo’s smartwatches, specifically the W1 and Freedom models, infringed two of Apple’s design patents.
The jury, seated in Delaware, ruled that these earlier Masimo watches and chargers willfully violated Apple’s patent rights. However, they awarded Apple just $250 in damages — the statutory minimum for infringement in the U.S, Reuters news report said.
Apple is the #1 wearable brand in the world with 17.4 percent share by shipping 7.7 million smartwatches during the second-quarter of 2024, according to the latest data from Canalys.
Apple’s primary goal in the lawsuit was not monetary compensation but rather an injunction against the sale of Masimo’s current smartwatches. The jury ultimately determined that Masimo’s current watches do not infringe Apple’s patents. This aspect of the verdict is a win for Masimo, which stated it was pleased with the outcome, emphasizing that the jury’s ruling only affects a discontinued module and charger.
The dispute between Apple and Masimo extends beyond this case. Masimo, headquartered in Irvine, California, previously accused Apple of poaching employees and stealing its pulse oximetry technology after initial collaboration talks.
Last year, the U.S. International Trade Commission sided with Masimo, blocking imports of Apple’s Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches over blood oxygen-level monitoring technology, which Masimo claims is based on its patents. Apple has since appealed the decision and resumed selling the watches, albeit without the technology in question.
Apple has also countersued Masimo, claiming the company copied Apple Watch features for use in its own smartwatch lineup and accused Masimo of leveraging lawsuits to edge Apple out of the health-focused smartwatch market.
